Spurs-Jazz Spread, Grizzlies-Clippers Spread – Game 4 NBA Playoffs
Carrie Stroup here with your Spurs-Jazz and Grizzlies-Clippers Game 4 NBA Playoffs spreads. You can find all the latest NBA Basketball odds at Sportsbook here.
Sportbsook.ag Line & Total: San Antonio -7.5 & 199
Opening Line & Total: Spurs -8 & 198.5
The Spurs attempt to finish off a first-round sweep and win a 14th straight game when they take the court in Utah on Monday night.
San Antonio has absolutely dominated this series with wins by 15, 31 and 12 points. That gives the Spurs 13 straight wins (12-0-1 ATS) dating back to the regular season, scoring at least 102 points in each victory. Although Utah has the size advantage down low, especially when it plays its big lineup with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors on the court at the same time, San Antonio outscored the Jazz 50-28 in the paint in Game 3. The Spurs are now 9-1 SU (7-2-1 ATS) versus the Jazz over the past two seasons and are also 19-3 ATS (86%) after four or more consecutive wins this year. And the FoxSheets reveal that road teams with a winning record on the season are a scintillating 30-6 ATS (83%) the past five seasons after successfully covering the spread in seven or more consecutive games.
San Antonio is a tremendous 23-11 SU (21-12-1 ATS) on the road, scoring 101.6 PPG away from home this season. So far in the series, the team is averaging 107.3 PPG on 51.2% FG and 39.0% threes. PG Tony Parker had another brilliant performance on Saturday with 27 points (10-of-17 FG) and six assists. That gives him 24.3 PPG on 57% FG with 7.7 APG in the series. C Tim Duncan has also contributed greatly despite the young and talented Utah big men guarding him. Duncan has 15.3 PPG (49% FG), 10.0 RPG and 3.0 APG in the series so far. He also posted three blocks in Game 3. And it’s just a matter of time before SG Manu Ginobili (53% FG in regular season) starts to heat up. He’s making just 31.8% of his shots (7-for-22) in the series, including 0-for-8 from downtown. But the Spurs have had plenty of other weapons to pick him up. SG Stephen Jackson has 10.7 PPG (6-of-11 threes) in the series, SG Daniel Green has added 13.5 PPG and 5.0 RPG in the past two contests, and SF Kawhi Leonard is scoring 8.3 PPG on 9-of-15 FG.
Utah has the ability to win this game based on an excellent home record this season at 25-9 (19-14 ATS), scoring 101.6 PPG on 46.2% FG at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz continue to struggle offensively in this series though, with just 88.0 PPG on 38.8% FG (28.1% threes). C Al Jefferson (15.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG in series) is coming off a stellar Game 3, scoring 21 points (10-of-18 FG) with 11 rebounds. But his buddy down low, PF Paul Millsap, has been held to just nine points in each of his past two games, a huge decrease from his 16.6 PPG during the regular season. He’s made just 8-of-23 shots in these two games, but he did block five shots in Saturday’s loss. PF Derrick Favors has done a nice job on the glass, grabbing 9.5 RPG in the series, but like Millsap he’s also 8-for-23 FG in the past two contests. Utah’s guards have been dreadful in this series for the most part. SG Gordon Hayward is shooting 23.1% FG (6-for-26), SG Jamaal Tinsley isn’t much better at 25.0% FG (4-for-16) and PG Devin Harris has more turnovers (10) than assists (eight). To be fair, Harris is coming off a strong Game 3 in which he scored 21 points (8-of-15 FG, 3-of-5 threes) and dished out five assists.
No. 4 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES at No. 5 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Clippers -1 & 182.5
Opening Line & Total: Clippers -1.5 & 183
The Clippers won their first home playoff game in six seasons on Saturday night to put them in a position to go up 3-1 in the series if they tally another home victory over the Grizzlies on Monday night.
Memphis knows it could certainly be up 3-0 in this series after blowing a 27-point lead in Game 1, and a six-point lead with 7 minutes to play on Saturday. But the Grizzlies could not hold onto either cushion and are just 2-10 SU (5-7 ATS) when visiting the Clippers in the past six seasons. But L.A. could’ve won Game 3 easily had the team made some more free throws (13-of-30). PG Chris Paul made 7-of-8 foul shots, but the rest of his team was 6-for-22 (27%). Paul has been the difference maker in this series so far, coming off a brilliant Game 3 in which he had 24 points, 11 assists, four steals and four rebounds. Two more trends working in L.A.’s favor for Game 4 are: 1) Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread are 60-26 ATS (70%) in a game involving two good teams (60% to 75%) over the past five seasons. 2) Underdogs are 14-49 ATS (22%) since 1996 off a cover where the team lost the game straight up in a game involving teams with win percentages between 60% and 75%.
For the season, Memphis is now 15-19 SU (14-19-1 ATS) on the road, averaging a mere 91.1 PPG on 43.5% FG away from home. This trend held true in Game 3, as the team scored just 86 points on 40% FG (4-of-13 threes). Other than SF Rudy Gay (21.3 PPG on 48% FG), the main scorers for the Grizzlies have not shot well during this series -- SG O.J. Mayo (33% FG), PF Zach Randolph (40.5% FG) and PG Mike Conley (41% FG). C Marc Gasol has also played below his capabilities with 11.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG, well below the 14.6 PPG and 8.9 PPG he posted during the regular season.
L.A. is 25-9 SU (17-17 ATS) at home this season, scoring 98.8 PPG on 46.7% FG. The Clippers are actually shooting with great accuracy from the field (51.2% FG) and from three-point range (45.1%) in this series, but continue to hurt themselves from the foul line (60.6%). After a lackluster Game 1 (14 points on 5-of-12 FG), Paul has scored 26.5 PPG on 50% FG in his past two games. He’s also racked up 9.3 APG in the series, but has an uncharacteristic 4.0 turnovers per game. PF Blake Griffin has 18.7 PPG on 54% FG this series, but he hasn’t been cleaning the glass like he usually does, averaging just 6.7 RPG, which is considerably lower than his 11.5 RPG average in his regular-season career. SF Caron Butler surprisingly returned to the lineup in Game 3 after hurting his hand in Game 1, which was thought to be a season-ending injury. Butler was able to play 22 minutes on Saturday, but wasn’t very effective with just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. However, SG Randy Foye finally showed up in Game 3 with 16 points on 6-of-9 FG (4-of-5 threes). Foye had just 4.5 PPG (3-of-10 FG) in the first two games of the series. SG Nick Young hasn’t missed much this series, scoring 12.3 PPG on 62% FG and 7-of-10 threes. Backup PG Mo Williams has also provided instant offense with 28 points (46%) in just 52 minutes of action over the three games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
