Betting Thunder-Grizzlies: Three props that stand out
Two of the top teams in the Western Conference play Wednesday night on ESPN when the Oklahoma City Thunder (50-11, 23-7 away) hit the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies (38-23, 22-9 home). Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a 51-point showing in a win over Houston on Monday, while the Grizzlies are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Ja Morant, who has missed the past two games due to a shoulder injury, is listed as questionable for this one.
ESPN BET is offering an array of prop bets for the Thunder-Grizzlies game, and here are betting experts Andre Snellings and Eric Moody with the bets they like most.
For the latest odds, visit ESPN BET Sportsbook.
Gilgeous-Alexander seems to be making his late-season push for MVP, fresh off a 51-point/7-assist effort against the Rockets. In his last six games, he has averaged 36.0 PPG and 6.8 APG (42.8 total points + assists), up from his season averages of 32.6 PPG and 6.2 APG, while going over 38.5 P+A in four of the six. This will be SGA’s third game against the Grizzlies this season, and he’s gone over 38.5 P+A in both of the first two (32.5 PPG, 7.5 APG in those two games). — Snellings
Bane has stayed under this line in 15 of his last 20 games despite solid volume, with 15.3 field goal attempts and 10.2 potential assists in 34.5 minutes per game. Now he faces a tough Thunder defense that ranks near the top in limiting both points and assists. He’s also gone under in four straight games against OKC, including two this season. With Jaren Jackson Jr. out, his assist numbers could take a hit, and even playing at home hasn’t helped as he’s fallen short in 20 of 25 games in Memphis. The trends don’t favor him in this spot. — Moody
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The Thunder rank 25th in rebounds allowed per game, and with Jackson out, the Grizzlies are thin in the frontcourt. That could mean more minutes for Edey, especially against an Oklahoma City team with rugged 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. Edey’s been productive on the glass, averaging 8.5 rebounds in just 20.9 minutes over his last 15 games. And when he gets at least 22 minutes? He’s cleared this line in 13 of 20 games this season. Edey should be a big factor on the boards on Wednesday night. — Moody
With the Chargers releasing Joey Bosa, check out some of the key stats and figures from his time with the team. (0:50)
LOS ANGELES — The Chargers released outside linebacker Joey Bosa on Wednesday night, cutting ties with their longest-tenured player and one of the best in franchise history.
The move saves them $25.36 million in cap space.
Bosa, 29, was selected by the Chargers with the No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft. His 72 career sacks in the regular season rank second in franchise history behind Leslie O’Neal (105.5).
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Bosa was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016, posting 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He quickly emerged as one of the league’s best edge rushers, making four Pro Bowls in his first six seasons. He set an NFL record with 19 sacks in his first 20 games.
The Chargers rewarded Bosa with a five-year, $135 million contract extension in 2020, a deal that at the time was the richest for a defensive player in NFL history. But injuries have plagued him since; he has played in just 28 games over the past three seasons.
Still, Bosa was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl in 2024, albeit as an alternate, and his 14 games played were his most since 2021. When healthy, he has remained an effective pass rusher; in the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January, he had a team-high six pressures and one sack.
Bosa made it clear throughout the season that he wanted to be a Charger for life, and he took a pay cut last offseason to stay with the team. Still, he was projected to have a $36.4 million cap hit this season, which always seemed untenable for the Chargers, who with his release now have $90.6 million in cap space.
Bosa will navigate free agency for the first time in his career. Earlier in the offseason, he discussed the potential of playing with his younger brother Nick, a five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher with the San Francisco 49ers.
“It’d be cool at some point,” Bosa said then. “I always thought of myself being somebody that will play here and retire here, which I think not many people do on one team, and I think it would be a cool thing to accomplish, but you never know.”
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 38.5 total points and assists (-110)
Desmond Bane under 30.5 points and assists (-110)
Zach Edey over 8.5 rebounds (-115)
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OKC Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies Injury Report
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been dealt a bad hand with injuries this season despite its 50-11 record. In its 137-128 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday, the Thunder saw Alex Caruso leave the contest early due to an ankle injury.
Memphis is also dealing with massive injuries and will see its best player sidelined for this National TV contest with plenty of other rotational pieces in flux.
Here is the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Isaiah Hartenstein — Available: Nasal Fracture
Isaiah Joe — Available: Back Soreness
Alex Caruso — Out: Ankle Sprain
Chet Holmgren — OUT: Leg contusion
Ajay Mitchell — Out: Toe Fracture
Nikola Topic — Out: Knee Surgery
Dillon Jones — Out: G League
Alex Ducas — Out: G League
Branden Carlson — Out: G League
Santi Aldama — Questionable: Calf
John Konchar — Questionable: Knee
Scotty Pippen Jr. — Questionable: Toe
Ja Morant — Questonable: Shoulder
Jaren Jackson Jr. — Out: Ankle
Yuki Kawamura — Out: Hamstring
Zyon Pullin — Out: Patellar
Jay Huff — Available: G League
Cam Spencer — Available: G League
Seeing Isaiah Joe upgraded to questionable is a good sign for the Oklahoma City Thunder are the sharpshooter missed the Thunder’s last two contests with back soreness. The Thunder saw Alex Caruso leave Monday’s clash with the Rockets after five minutes of action due to an ankle injury and he is sidelined for this contest.
The Memphis Grizzlies will have to navigate missing its best player, Jaren Jackson Jr., against the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed which will be a tall task, especially if Ja Morant can not give it a go.
Tip-off of this tilt is slated for 8:30 PM CT on ESPN.
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Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network.
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