The Memphis Grizzlies have won 70% of their games this NBA season, but currently occupy only a play-in spot. Returning home should help them climb the table, although the Denver Nuggets are far from weak opposition.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies had a brief road trip, visiting Toronto in Canada and comfortably beating them 118:102. Surprisingly, they have found things tougher at home — they have lost all three of their latest home games. Defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder (97:128) is understandable — they topped last season's regular-season standings and reached the Western Conference finals — but losses to the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans? Neither even finished in their conference's top 10, and both are outside it again now. The Grizzlies are inconsistent at present.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, lost their latest road game to the Houston Rockets (100:110). Does that make them easier opposition? A team that won 54 games last season? A team with imposing centre Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 23.1 points and 10.8 rebounds? They also have sharpshooter Jamal Murray (25.8 points), who is shooting 50.7% from three-point range. They have lost just two of their five road games this season. The other defeat also came against the Oklahoma City Thunder (84:96). Yet they beat both the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans on their own courts by at least seven points.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
Last season, the Denver Nuggets won three of their four meetings with the Memphis Grizzlies, including one of the two in Tennessee. We will take a small positive handicap on the visitors as insurance in case the hosts snatch victory in a tight finish.
