Grizzlies vs. Lakers prediction and odds for Game 3 (Los Angeles primed to bounce back)
By Peter Dewey
There are a few things you may not want to do in the NBA playoffs, and one of those is give LeBron James an extra incentive to beat you.
Just ask Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors about the 2016 NBA Finals.
Well, Dillon Brooks may have crossed the line with some of his comments about LeBron after Game 2. Brooks really dared James to score 40 points on him.
Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 20, 2023
And Brooks had plenty more to say. pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ
That may not be the wisest decision, and the Lakers favored at home in Game 3 against the Grizz. Memphis may not have Ja Morant (hand) in this matchup, but it was able to win Game 2 at home without him.
Let’s break down the odds and how to bet Game 3 of this series:
Grizzlies vs. Lakers odds, spread and total
Grizzlies vs. Lakers prediction and pick
The Lakers struggled on offense in Game 2, mainly D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Daivs, leading to a 10-point Memphis win.
Still, Los Angeles did what it needed to do and stole a game on the road from a higher seed. Now, the Lakers control home court and could really put this series out of reach with two wins at home.
I feel fairly confident in Los Angeles bouncing back in Game 3, especially when you look at everything that went wrong in Game 2.
The Lakers shot worse from the field, worse from 3 and turned the ball over more times than Memphis on Wednesday night. Los Angeles also only had 30 points combined from Austin Reaves, Davis and Russell after they combined for 64 in Game 1.
There’s going to be some positive regression, especially for Davis, at home in Game 3, and I also think that James is going to come out with a bigger chip on his shoulder.
LeBron has played well in this series, but Brooks challenging him was a risky, risky move by the Grizzlies wing. We’ve seen James dominate playoff games and series throughout his storied career, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he adds another all-timer to the resume.
I’ll lay the points with the Lakers in Game 3.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.