Memphis at Los Angeles

The Memphis Grizzlies and the LA Clippers are even at one game apiece as the series moves to LA. This series was kind of a toss-up at Memphis, but LA should have a big advantage at home in this one where they have gone 24-9 this season, while playing to a losing record on the road. The oddsmakers are saying that they are the underdog here at -3, as the NBA home-court advantage in the playoffs is 4.4 points. The LA Clippers have been the best team this year when coming home off a road loss where they have beaten this Memphis team twice in this situation, as well as Dallas, Miami, and Denver. This season they have come home seven times after a road loss and have proceeded to go 7-0, winning by an average of 9.3 points per game. And of the seven teams they faced, five are in the playoffs, so they aren't beating up on cupcakes. The Grizzlies are struggling on the road vs. a team with a winning home record where they are 7-16 ATS in their last 23. Third games of playoff series are very pivotal, and that has brought out defensive intensity as the first half UNDER is 138-88 over the last 226 series Game 3s. Memphis has been 41-18 to the first half UNDER as a road dog over the last two seasons. Intensity will be the defensive calling card for both early in this one. Play on the Clippers and the first half UNDER.