NBA Saturday February 26th Grizzlies at Bulls Betting Preview
Oddsmakers Not Giving a Ton of Love to Chicago Here
The line for the February 26th Grizzlies at Bulls betting contest is an interesting one. Chicago is actually getting +2 points at home despite having one of the most scorching hot players in the league and posting a 24-8 record at the United Center this season.
This should be a good game, so there’s also value on Memphis only giving -2 on Saturday night. The Grizzlies have already beaten the Bulls 119-106 this year, and had won 6 of 7 prior to the all-star break. Memphis fell 119-104 on Thursday in their first game back from the layoff, while Chicago outlasted Atlanta 112-108. That adds yet more intrigue to Memphis being a -2 point favorite.
Can Grizzlies Pick Up the Big Road Win?
Memphis was a -2 point favorite in their last road game, which ended in a 119-114 loss at Minnesota that was fueled by the T’Wolves D’Angelo Russell scoring 23 of his 37 points in the 4th quarter. Memphis had a 59-42 advantage on the boards and still couldn’t come away with a victory.
Ja Morant did tweak his hip in Thursday’s loss which has landed him as questionable for the February 26th Grizzlies at Bulls betting contest, but he returned to the game and should be good to go on Saturday. Morant had 20 vs Minnesota, but it was Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Ziaire Williams combining for 42 points that kept Memphis close.
Morant had 25 and Desmond Bane also added 25 when the Grizzlies beat the Bulls 119-106 on January 17th. Chicago was down 28 at one point, but were also without Zach Lavine. Memphis was also playing some of their best basketball of the season at that time, winning 11 of 12 games prior.
Bulls a Possible Play
Chicago has won six straight largely on the heels of a record setting stretch from DeMar DeRozan who has scored 35+ points in 8 straight games while shooting better than 50% in each of those contests. DeRozan’s success doesn’t equate to guaranteed dominations though as the Bulls needed a go ahead 3-point play with around 15 seconds left to beat the Hawks on Thursday, but that’s still impressive momentum.
Chicago doesn’t have to as much of a one man team anymore either with Zach LaVine set to play in his second game since the all-star break after missing the last three prior to the weekend. LaVine was just 7-17 on Thursday for 20 points, but he should be able to get in a better groove with a game under his belt.
What the Bulls will need to do on Saturday night is play better on the post, where Clint Capela was dominant with 17 rebounds for the Hawks on Thursday. Memphis’ Steven Adams has 11+ rebounds in four of the last five so he should be able to have a solid performance on the interior.
Free February 26th Grizzlies at Bulls Betting Pick
Is this one just overthinking things or should the Bulls be favored on Saturday and thus oddsmakers are luring us into a trap to take the Grizzlies? Chicago was just -2.5 at home on Thursday and ended up getting a 4-point win over Atlanta, so maybe the Bulls are the team to take here. Then again with 72% of the public on Chicago and the line moving away from them, it’s a Memphis play.
Grizzlies 124 – Bulls 115
Free Pick: Grizzlies -2
