Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Friday’s Toronto Raptors vs. Memphis Grizzlies NBA matchup.

The Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies will face off tonight as part of tonight’s nine-game NBA slate.

This will be the second and final matchup between these two cross-conference opponents. They first faced off on November 2nd, which resulted in a 117-104 Raptors’ victory. Plenty has changed for both teams since this time, and they face very different outlooks for the remainder of the season.

Looking at the odds, the Raptors enter as 13.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Grizzlies are +650 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 233.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Friday night matchup.

Raptors vs. Grizzlies prediction, preview

The Toronto Raptors hold a 42-34 record on the season, and have slipped to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They currently hold the same record as the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Sixers hold the advantage in the tiebreakers, which dropped Toronto to seventh. The Raptors are coming off a frustrating loss to the Sacramento Kings in the previous game, and have lost five of their last eight. On the season, the Raptors have gone 38-38 against the spread, and the game total has remained under in 46 of their 76 games played.

Immanuel Quickly will remain sidelined tonight due to a foot injury. Brandon Ingram headlines the scoring effort for the Raptors, posting averages of 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Scottie Barnes sets the tone for the team on both sides of the ball, stuffing the stat sheet with 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. RJ Barret pitches in 19.1 points and 5.3 rebounds of his own, while Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Murray-Boyles, Jakob Poeltl, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Jamal Shead also play notable roles.

Darko Rajakovic’s squad is averaging 114.4 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the NBA. The Raptors also rank 17th in offensive rating, ninth in field-goal percentage, and 23rd in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 112.3 points per game against Toronto, which ranks ninth in the NBA. The Raptors also rank seventh in defensive rating, 11th in opponents’ field-goal percentage, and 10th in opponents’ three-point percentage.

The Memphis Grizzlies have been eliminated from postseason contention and sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 25-51 overall record. They pulled the plug on this iteration of the Grizzlies roster, headlined by the decision to trade away Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline, and will face some major questions about Ja Morant’s future in the offseason. Memphis enters this matchup coming off back-to-back losses and has dropped 15 of its past 17 games. On the season, the Grizzlies have gone 36-40 against the spread, and the game total is 38-38 to the over/under.

The Grizzlies continue to be bothered by injuries, which have limited their outlook in a major way. Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jaylen Wells, Santi Aldama, Cam Spencer, Brandon Clarke, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Ty Jerome will all remain sidelined tonight. Taj Gibson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are listed as doubtful, while Walter Clayton Jr. is listed as questionable. Memphis has kicked off a youth movement and is sorting through which players are the foundation of the future. Cedric Coward, GG Jackson, Taylor Hendricks, and Javon Small will continue their auditions.

Memphis ranks 17th in the league in scoring, averaging 115.1 points per game. The Grizzlies also rank 23rd in offensive rating, 26th in field goal percentage, and 20th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 119.5 points per game against the Grizzlies, which ranks 24th in the league. They also rank 22nd in defensive rating, 24th in opponent field goal percentage, and 21st in opponent three-point percentage.

Raptors vs. Grizzlies pick, best bet

The Toronto Raptors were one of the better stories in the NBA for most of the season, but are fading down the stretch. They need to capitalize on every opportunity for wins to maximize their chances of climbing back into the top six of the Eastern Conference, and this is a prime chance to do so.

Defense has continued to be an issue for this Grizzlies team following the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. They have given up 119+ points in each of their past seven games and are allowing an average of 126.3 points per game across their past 16. In addition to this, they lack enough legitimate options as offensive creators, with their top four scorers sidelined tonight.

Toronto looks like a vulnerable basketball team that is struggling at the wrong time of year. But there should be a feeling of desperation inside the locker room as they attempt to climb back into the top six seeds, and this is a great get-right opportunity.

The Raptors picked up a 117-104 victory in the first matchup between these two teams. Jaren Jackson Jr. headlined the production for the Grizzlies in this game, and they had a much more competent roster than is currently the case. Toronto out-rebounded Memphis 49-41 and poured in 25 points on the fast break. Expect them to exploit these same weaknesses as they have become further magnified.

Toronto is 20-18 against the spread this season when playing on the road and has covered the spread in seven of their last 11, even while slipping a bit from their start to the year. In contrast, Memphis is 9-18 against the spread in non-conference matchups this year, 26-31 ATS as an underdog, and 11-13 ATS as a home underdog. They are 6-9 against the spread across their past 15.

Expect a focused effort from this Raptors team as they attempt to climb back into the top six of the Eastern Conference, especially while the Sixers have a tough matchup against the Timberwolves tonight. But Toronto must be focused on its own game, and this is the type of matchup they should be eager for. Expect them to take full control out of the gates and gradually extend the lead to leave no doubt, covering the 13.5-point spread in the process.

Best Bet: Raptors -13.5 (-115)