Admittedly, when the NBA schedule dropped during the offseason, Thursday’s contest featuring Memphis visiting Portland didn’t stand out to me as a must-watch. However, it has unexpectedly turned into a showdown featuring two of the league’s final three undefeated squads in the NBA, while marking Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant’s initial clash with the franchise that dealt him away this past summer. He will likely be motivated to deliver a massive performance facing his previous club. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Portland enters as a 7.5-point favorite on their home court in the odds for Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers, accompanied by an Over/Under point total set at 232.5. Unlock top value using Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55, execute $25 in trades, and score a $55 bonus right here:
Serving as one of merely three fixtures scheduled for Thursday night in the NBA, this matchup closes out the slate with a 10 p.m. ET tip-off. Laying the 7.5 points, Portland is drawing 86% of the handle alongside 82% of all bet slips, whereas action on the 232.5 line displays a comparable tilt toward the Over.
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Same-Game Parlay for Grizzlies vs. Blazers
- Portland Moneyline
- Alternate Under 240.5
DraftKings: SGP odds: +104 (fluctuations may occur)
The recent acquisition of the Blazers by owner Tom Condon hasn’t won over Portland fans, largely due to cost-cutting decisions and allowing head coach Tiago Splitter to walk following an unexpected run to the Western Conference postseason last year. Splitter was promptly hired by the Bulls. In a rare move, Condon replaced him permanently with ex-Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori under a contract offering guaranteed money for only the opening campaign. With club options governing the remaining two seasons, Condon along with team leadership maintain full contractual control.
It raises questions as to why Nori accepted the role under those terms, though head coaching positions remain exceedingly rare and this roster displays tremendous upward momentum. The group has become an absolute blast to watch following the acquisitions of Morant alongside franchise legendary figure and future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard. This marks just the second instance across the past 15 years that Portland has initiated a campaign with a 3-0 record.
Morant’s trade market reached a nadir in Memphis prior to being acquired in June—an absolute bargain trade involving forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. When fully healthy and unburdened by off-court distractions, Morant belongs in discussions as a top-20 league talent while comfortably ranking among the 10 most thrilling performers to watch. The 27-year-old guard has seamlessly adapted to a balanced team structure without demanding ball dominance, contributing 16.3 points per game while shooting 58.8% from the floor alongside 6.3 assists. Heading into tonight’s game, his combined points plus assists prop stands at 24.5, with projections anticipating 18.4 scoring points and 5.9 dishes.
Although Lillard was part of the roster last term, he sat out the entire year recovering from an ailment sustained during his concluding stint in Milwaukee. Now 36, he is performing at a high caliber, registering 21.7 points, 4.3 boards, and 4.0 assists per contest. It is difficult to identify any guard tandem more compelling than Morant paired with Lillard. The roster depth is further bolstered by quality options Jrue Holiday and Scott Henderson, not to mention forward Deni Avdija (22.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.3 APG), who might be the squad’s most versatile asset.
Portland currently paces the entire NBA offensively, pouring in an astonishing 129.3 points per contest. They likewise command top rankings in converted field goals per match (45.7) as well as assist-to-turnover ratio (2.24). During the previous campaign, they posted a 21-22 record in clutch situations—defined by a margin within five points during the closing five minutes. Through the early stages of this season, they stand perfect at 2-0 in such scenarios.
Are they positioned to capture the Western Conference title? Given their +2800 futures pricing and a projected win line of 45.5, it remains unlikely, yet Portland certainly possesses the ability to create problems. They earned an impressive 136-129 road victory over a previously undefeated Lakers squad on Monday. Moreover, with Oklahoma City suffering notable setbacks, unpredictable outcomes could arise. Meanwhile, Nori holds prominent early standing in Coach of the Year markets at +1500.
While Portland’s 3-0 start isn’t entirely shocking, Memphis surging to a 4-0 mark while undergoing a declared roster overhaul following the departures of Morant and Jaren Jackson (traded to Utah last year) comes as a major shocker. Tuomas Iisalo sits at +1400 in the Coach of the Year odds. This represents only the second 4-0 start in Grizzlies history, matching the 2014-15 roster that reeled off six straight wins en route to a 55-27 record.
Without question, veteran guard Ty Jerome has spearheaded Memphis’ early surge, earning the latest Western Conference Player of the Week honors. Normally producing 9.7 points per game over his career, he has surged well beyond that benchmark with a remarkable 29.8 PPG output thus far, making him the +600 frontrunner for NBA Most Improved Player honors. Among all players appearing in at least three contests, Jerome tops the league in second-half point production (19.0) as well as fourth-quarter scoring (10.0). Reports suggest rival clubs are already reaching out to Memphis regarding potential trade inquiries. His individual line for this matchup is set at an Over/Under of 24.5 points.
Capitalizing on peak value for the 29-year-old makes logical sense, particularly as he controls a player option for next year while drawing a modest $9.2 million salary this term. Jerome does not align with the franchise’s long-term blueprint, which centers around rookie Cameron Boozer (the +220 favorite for Rookie of the Year), sophomore Cedric Coward, and third-year center Zach Edey despite his durability concerns, alongside a select group of core pieces.
My assessment is that Memphis is outperforming its actual baseline talent level, given that all four opponents they defeated sit well beneath a .500 winning percentage, coupled with favorable health situations against opposing lineups—such as during Monday’s 110-105 victory over Utah. That contest saw key Jazz figures Jackson and Lauri Markkanen exit during the opening half and fail to come back. Memphis managed to hold leads at the midpoint in all four outings while connecting on more shots from beyond the arc than their opponents in each game, converting at a 39.1% clip while restricting opposing teams to 32.4%.
During the previous campaign, Portland claimed victory in three out of four head-to-head encounters, including three consecutive home wins against Memphis. Closing out a four-game road swing, the Grizzlies face a classic scheduling trap. Memphis has not pulled off a sweep on a road trip lasting four or more games since November 2013. Jerome’s production is bound to regress toward normal expectations. The analytical projection favors the Blazers to secure a 117-111 victory. Discover additional professional predictions by subscribing to the SportsLine daily newsletter.
