Los Angeles at Memphis

Memphis finds themselves in an unenviable 0-2 hole after losing a heartbreaker in LA by a buzzer beater. They are in familiar territory, as last year they fell  behind this Clippers team three games to one before losing Game Seven. They allowed LA to score early and often when on the road in that seven-game series, as they averaged 47.7 points per game in the first half in LA, but just 40.8 ppg in the four played at Memphis. They allowed LA to score 50 and 57 first half points in the first two meetings this year, and I expect the that defensively strong Grizzlies are going to bring their best defense for this one early, which is the league's best. Memphis has had just a pair of three game losing streaks all season, the last of which came over three months ago, so they seem to toughen after losing. The Grizzlies have also made a habit of taking down good teams at home where they are 26-11 ATS in their last 37 vs. a winning team. The Clippers are just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. a winning team. Defense has led the Grizzlies all season, and I expect to see what we saw last year early in this game. They will bring it hard, and ride to another home win to get back in this series. Take Memphis and the first half UNDER.