Nuggets Eye .500 Mark When Hosting Grizzlies Friday

Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets
NBA Betting Preview
Date: 12/14/2012 at 10:30 p.m. (ET)
Opening Lines: Denver -1, O/U 194
(click for latest NBA odds)
Television: ESPN

Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies (14-5 straight-up, 12-6-1 against the spread) have the third-best record in the Western Conference, but they have hit a speed bump the last two games with losses hosting Atlanta (93-83) and at Phoenix (82-80). They’re now 0-3-1 ATS in their last four after starting the year 12-3 ATS. Those were also Memphis’ two lowest offensive outputs of the year, and the team is averaging just 89.6 points per game in regulation in its last eight games with the "under" going 6-2. Coach Lionel Hollins’ guys rank 13th in the NBA in scoring (97.2 ppg) even with just four players exceeding 7.3 ppg. Point guard Mike Conley (13.9) is one of them, but he’s really struggled the last four (9.3 on 28.9 percent field-goal shooting). The Grizzlies are still the top-ranked team in scoring defense (90.7 ppg), which keeps them in most games.

Denver Nuggets: Denver (11-12 SU, 13-10 ATS) has played eight of its last nine games on the road and has alternated between wins and losses in its last seven. The most recent contest was a 108-105 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday as 4-point road ‘dogs. Danilo Gallinari had 24 points, and he leads the team in scoring at 15.6 ppg, one of six players averaging double digits in the balanced offensive attack. Denver ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring (100.9 ppg) but just 25th in defense (101). The Nuggets are happy to return home to the Pepsi Center, where they’ve incredibly played just six games this year (going 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS), the fewest in the league. They are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games following a road trip of seven days or more. The Grizzlies and Nuggets met in Tennessee on Nov. 19 with Denver winning 97-92 as 7-point ‘dogs. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

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