NBA
Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors: Predictions, Odds and Tips
The Memphis Grizzlies will host the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum on December 19. Both are near the top of the Western Conference and are highly likely to make the postseason based on their form in the early stages of the 2024-25 National Basketball Association (NBA) season.
Stephen Curry and Kobi Simmons during the third quarter of their NBA game//Getty Images
The Warriors were generally the dominant team in the NBA from 2015-2022 but it seems that their dynasty is coming to an end. Steve Kerr remains as head coach and Stephen Curry as their star player. However, the team around Curry is probably short of championship quality. The Grizzlies are fighting to build a championship team around Ja Morant, which makes this a fascinating clash.
For fans who have an interest in NBA betting, the latest odds and tips for this game are worth following. We offer our predictions for how the clash between the Grizzlies and Warriors will unfold.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors match details
19 December: 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT)
Tip-off Time: 7 p.m.
Location: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Officials: TBA
Last meeting: Golden State Warriors 123-118 Memphis Grizzlies (15 November 2024, NBA Cup)
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Warriors Slight Favourites
Memphis Grizzlies: 23/20 (2.15) – 46.5%
Golden State Warriors: 4/5 (1.80) – 55.6%
*Forecast Odds
Betting Tips
For our NBA betting tips, we analyse the form of teams and equally consider other factors such as the overall roster quality. We also analyze the head-to-head records between the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors and offer our predictions.
Suggested bets:
Ja Morant 20+ points: Morant was unavailable to lead the Grizzlies offense in the last meeting between these sides. However, he is finding form and regularly having 20+ point games. Against the Mavericks, he scored 31. (4/5 forecast odds)
Stephen Curry 20+ points: So much of the Warriors’ offense depends on Curry being on top form. Even with the team misfiring, he has scored 20+ points in all of his last three games. (1/2 forecast odds)
Memphis Grizzlies to Win: The Warriors’ early season promise has given way to a poor run of form. Had Ja Morant been available the last time the teams played, the Grizzlies might have won. (11/10 forecast odds)
Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings:
2024/11/15: Golden State Warriors 123-118 Memphis Grizzlies
2024/03/20: Golden State Warriors 137-116 Memphis Grizzlies
2024/02/02: Memphis Grizzlies 101-121 Golden State Warriors
2024/01/15: Memphis Grizzlies 116-107 Golden State Warriors
2023/03/18: Memphis Grizzlies 133-119 Golden State Warriors
Warriors legend Andre Iguodala was traded by the Warriors to the Grizzlies in 2019. He never played an NBA game for the Grizzlies and later returned to the Warriors after a spell with the Miami Heat to win his fourth championship with them in 2022.
Memphis Grizzlies: Current Form - WWWWL
The Grizzlies have been picking up steam recently and hit a run of six straight victories before they eventually lost 121-116 to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Cup. Ja Morant is the leader of the offense and scored 31 points in the defeat to the Mavs.
When the Grizzlies lost to the Golden State Warriors the last time the teams faced off, Morant was out of action with a posterior hip subluxation and pelvic muscle strains. On that occasion, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the scoring for the Grizzlies with 32 points.
At the time of writing, the Grizzlies are fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 14-8 for the season. Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder are 16-5.
Key Players to Watch
- Ja Morant: The Grizzlies’ main spark on offense comes from Morant – one of the most talented players in the league. His 22 points per game and 8.6 assists per game are integral. It has been roughly a year since his last suspension for displaying a gun on social media and Morant’s name is now being discussed for the right reasons again.
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: The 6-foot-10 power forward/center is capable of taking charge of the scoring if ever anything goes wrong with Morant. His size allows him to collect rebounds and there are few players in the league like him because he not only gets boards but also is a shrewd passer.
- Desmond Bane: Sharing the backcourt with Morant, Bane is a reliable scorer. He is averaging 14.3 points and 3.9 assists per game at the time of writing. Some of his best performances of the season have come in recent games against the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks.
Ja Morant//Getty Images
Memphis Grizzlies Team News
Center Zach Edey should be back from his sprained ankle by the time this game takes place. However, it is likely that the fixture will come too early for power forward Gregory Jackson, who is out with a foot injury. Small forward Vince Williams Jr., who like Edey has an ankle injury, will likely be out until the new year.
Golden State Warriors: Current Form - LLLLL
After a strong start to the season, the Warriors have hit a blip. They have lost five straight games to the San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors have, however, still built up a strong foundation for their quest to claim a postseason spot. They are currently 12-8 for the NBA season. Stephen Curry may not be as dominant as he was in 2017, but he is still a force to be reckoned with. Curry averages 22.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game for the season.
Key Players to Watch
- Jonathan Kuminga is one of the players who can take over from Curry. Against the Nuggets, Curry scored 24 points while he scored 19. Kuminga is still working to match the consistency of the greatest NBA players but has shown he has the ability and basketball IQ to reach the top.
- Stephen Curry: Curry has led the Warriors to four NBA championships. There have been few point guards in NBA history as ruthlessly efficient as him. His three-point shooting revolutionized the NBA and the league has become more offense-heavy since he entered it because other teams have had to adapt to his brilliance.
- Jonathan Kuminga: Kuminga has always been an incredibly talented player. Last season, he began to show that he can be a great leader too, directing his more experienced teammates on the court. Kuminga averages 13.8 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game this season in the NBA.
- Kevon Looney: The Warriors rely on Looney’s rebounding presence. He has 7.8 boards per game for the Warriors and this is hugely important for a team that no longer has the depth of star power it once did. Draymond Green is also capable of helping out with rebounds but has had injury and discipline issues.
Golden State Warriors Team News
Shooting guard De’Anthony Melton is out for the season for the Golden State Warriors with a knee injury. However, it is likely that by the time this game takes place, Steve Kerr will be able to call on the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Quinten Post, who have all faced minor injury issues.
Predicted Line-Ups
Memphis Grizzlies predicted Starting Lineup
- PG: Ja Morant
- SG: Desmond Bane
- SF: Jaylen Wells
- PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
- C: Zach Edey
Golden State Warriors predicted starting lineup:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Andrew Wiggins
- SF: Jonathan Kuminga
- PF: Draymond Green
- C: Kevon Looney
Value Bets
Jaren Jackson Jr. 20+ points: Jackson scored 32 points in his last game against the Warriors. With Steve Kerr’s side out of form, he can repeat this. (5/4 forecast odds)
Stephen Curry 10+ assists: Curry’s playmaking ability is not to be underestimated. He had 11 assists against the Denver Nuggets. (13/10 forecast odds)
Memphis Grizzlies -3.5 Handicap: The Warriors have lost five games in a row, all by at least four points. (10/11 forecast odds)
Top Scorers/players for both teams
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry is the Warriors’ leading scorer with 22.6 points per game. He also leads the team in assists with 6.6 per game and steals with 1.4 per game.
Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. has 22.1 points per game for the Grizzlies and leads their scoring. Ja Morant is hot on his tail with 22.0. These are the two key pieces of the Grizzlies’ offense.
Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies to Win
With the Golden State Warriors in such poor form with five straight losses at the time of writing and the Memphis Grizzlies beginning to gel as a team, a Grizzlies win is our prediction. The Grizzlies will have home advantage in their favor. The Warriors do have talented players such as Steph Curry and Draymond Green but they are not in their prime. The likes of Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are not yet ready to lead a championship team and that is showing in the Warriors’ recent results.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.