Milwaukee Bucks vs
Memphis GrizzliesPredictions & Preview

Grizzlies Brace for Battle Against Bucks as Ja Morant's Availability in Doubt

On Thursday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will travel to the FedEx Forum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Bucks are coming off a recent loss to the Boston Celtics, while the Grizzlies will be playing on a back-to-back after their game on Wednesday night. The tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, with Memphis opening as the home favorite. However, Milwaukee is the betting favorite with the current line at -6.5.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Bucks -240 | Grizzlies +200
• Spread: Bucks -6.5 (-110) | Grizzlies +6.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 232.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Milwaukee will win straight-up is 71%.

Milwaukee vs Memphis Stats

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks (1-3) are preparing for their final game of a three-game road trip after a 119-108 loss to the Boston Celtics. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with impressive performances, but the Celtics pulled away in the third quarter. Lillard has struggled with his three-point shooting, hitting just 6-for-27 in the last three games. Milwaukee is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc and allowing teams to shoot 37.1%. Key injuries include Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) listed as questionable and Kris Middleton (ankle) out. With a power ranking of 19, Milwaukee ranks 13 in offense, averaging 114.00 points per game, and 23 in defense, allowing 119.00 points per game. The team is 1-3 this season, shooting 48.33% from the field and 33.33% from three-point range. Defensively, they allow 45.43% field goals and 37.06% three-pointers. The Bucks average 44.75 rebounds and 22.25 offensive assists per game.

Memphis Grizzlies Analysis

The Memphis Grizzlies are set to face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, coming off a loss to the Chicago Bulls where they played without Ja Morant due to thigh soreness. Desmond Bane led the team with 30 points, but the Grizzlies continue to struggle with third-quarter leads slipping away. Despite their strong offensive performance, the Grizzlies rank low in defense, allowing an average of 122.25 points per game. Memphis has a 2-3 record and is ranked 24th in power rankings. They excel in offensive statistics, shooting 46.97% from the field and making 36.00% of their three-pointers, but struggle with free throw shooting. On defense, they allow 44.59% field goals and 40.59% three-pointers, while excelling in defensive rebounds and turnovers. The Grizzlies will need to improve their defense to secure more wins in the future.

Ja Morant's availability in question as Memphis Grizzlies face Milwaukee Bucks in back-to-back series

The Memphis Grizzlies will be facing the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night in the midst of a back-to-back series. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that star guard Ja Morant may not be able to play on Thursday due to right thigh soreness. In the event that Morant is sidelined, Jake LaRavia, Scotty Pippen, and Santi Aldama are poised to receive extended playing time. Desmond Bane had recently struggled to reach the 20-point mark in consecutive games, but stepped up in Morant's absence to lead the Grizzlies in scoring against the Bulls. Given the Bucks' defensive struggles, Bane is likely to have another strong showing. Despite it being early in the season, the Bucks currently rank 25th in defensive rating. Therefore, the prediction for the Bucks vs. Grizzlies game is in favor of Memphis.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]