Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction: Can Jonas Valanciunas Start Fast for Pelicans?
The Memphis Grizzlies are taking on the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. Can Jonas Valanciunas start fast for Pelicans? Josh Gayle answers.
Josh Gayle - December 19, 2023, 9:15 AM EST
5 minMemphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction: Can Jonas Valanciunas Start Fast for Pelicans?
I'm laying the juice here for the Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans game.
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: December 18, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans Pick
1u - Jonas Valanciunas u4.5 1Q Points (-145) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
This is about as juicy as we like to get but I still see value here. Jonas Valanciunas is under in 19 of 27 games which is good for over a 70% hit rate. Among those games was against Memphis who he also plays tonight, in that first quarter he took just two shots.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
Valanciunas is a nice player but is the fourth fiddle in that offense behind Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. Memphis is a brutal matchup for him because they allow the fewest points in the paint and the fourth fewest made threes to Centers. I see Jaren Jackson having to focus less on offense with Ja Morant’s return and using much of his energy on defense locking people down.
Valanciunas is under in six of his last seven games and it would be a major shock to see him play more than eight minutes in the opening quarter. He can have a fine first quarter making two buckets and we would still cash. I think this prop should have been 3.5 with juice on the over, too much value having it at 4.5. Let's roll!
NBA Odds
