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NBA Cup group play wraps up Friday with several teams still alive for automatic berths to advance to the bracket format, either by winning their group or by securing an at-large bid.
The Los Angeles Clippers host the Memphis Grizzlies as 6.5-point favorites with a total of 227.5 points.
Neither can win Group C, but the winner remains alive for an at-large bid.
The 5-13 Clippers have been one of the league’s biggest disappointments, especially when you account for their issues off the court.
Owner Steve Ballmer remains under investigation for allegedly circumventing the salary cap with superstar Kawhi Leonard.
Plus, Leonard has missed 10 of the team’s 18 games with injuries or load management, which caused coach Tyronn Lue’s pointed comments this week.
He shot down the popular sports mindset of “next man up” for a short-handed team.
“If [your best player] is making $60 million and your next man is making $400,000, it’s not really the same,” Lue said.
James Harden (r) and the Clippers have not met expectations. NBAE via Getty Images
In no way, shape or form do the Clippers resemble a cohesive and resilient team. They are also 5-13 against the spread (ATS), and this season sure looks like a lost cause.
Meanwhile, Memphis has battled its own adversity with headache-inducing Ja Morant. The two-time All-Star is out with a right calf strain.
For the most part, the Grizzlies have struggled with a 7-12 record (and 7-12 ATS).
Betting on the NBA?
Not only did they enter the season with lower expectations than the Clips, the Grizzlies have played much better lately, winning and covering three of their last four games.
In my eyes, they have figured out how to play without Morant. Their front office finds and develops talent perhaps better than any other organization.
Starters like Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer are classic examples of this, and it’s just taken some time for them to find their groove and place in a lineup without Morant.
The Clippers are a mess, while Memphis is quite talented.
Los Angeles star James Harden can always take over, as he ranks 11th in the NBA with 27.9 points per game. However, I expect the Grizzlies to exploit a Clips defense that ranks fifth worst in efficiency.
I have a 78-67-2 ATS record in this Post sports section, and my next play is Memphis +6.5 (-115, BetMGM).
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
