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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors Free NBA Pick & Preview

Grizzlies vs Raptors Online Betting Odds

The Memphis Grizzlies will make the trip north of the border to the Air Canada Centre for a visit with the Toronto Raptors on Friday. [ad-4468020]

Memphis Grizzlies (38-26) at Toronto Raptors (36-27)
Date: Friday, March 14, 2014
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Air Canada Centre
City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
O/U Odds: 188
Spread: Toronto -1

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ATS Matchup Insight | CappersPicks Insider Preview

Both teams come in to this matchup hot, with the Grizzlies having won four in a row and six of their last seven, while the Raptors have won seven of their last nine games.

This matchup of course brings back memories of the old Toronto-Vancouver rivalry. The Grizzlies moved to Memphis in 2001, but the flame of the Raptors-Grizzlies rivalry still burns bright.

These teams now sit near one another in the overall NBA standings, but the Raptors sit comfortably atop the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division, while the Grizzlies are still fighting to stay in the top eight in the Western Conference. The Raptors hold a three-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets in the Atlantic Division despite winning 10 of their last 13 games.

Most recently, the team pulled off a win over the Detroit Pistons, 101-87 on Wednesday.
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Guard DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 25 points for the Raptors in that one, knocking down eight of 20 shots from the field.

Point guard Kyle Lowry chipped in 19 on 6-of-13 shooting, continuing his slick shooting from beyond the arc with a trio of three-balls, adding six assists and four rebounds, while forward Amir Johnson really filled out the stat sheet against his former club with 20 points, nine rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a block.

A big reason for Toronto’s recent surge has been their improved play in their own building. After taking slack for much of the season for not building a true home-court advantage, the Raptors have bucked that trend of late, posting a 15-4 record in their last 19 home games.

The Grizzlies have a pretty good streak of their own going though, winning 11 of their last 14 games overall.

As for Memphis, they just eked out a win in their last outing, a 90-88 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The team pulled off the victory despite its starters shooting just 38.8 percent from the field.

A pair of strong winning streaks will collide in Toronto on Friday night, and with the Raptors desperate to remain in the win column to hold off the hard-charging Nets, and the Grizzlies looking to keep their winning ways going to hold off the Suns and remain in the top eight out West, this one should play out in a playoff like atmosphere, with points coming at a premium in a battle between two strong defensive clubs – the Grizzlies rank third in the Association in scoring defense, and the Raptors rank fourth.

The under is 21-6 in the last 27 meetings between these teams, and 9-1 in the last 10 meetings in Toronto.

The play: Under 188

By Gino Bottero

Gino is new to CappersPicks.com but NOT new to the online gambling industry.He's got an AMAZING knack for discovering hidden gems when it comes to betting on sports. Stick with him as he predicts when a team will have a letdown! Check Gino out for NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB betting articles all season long!