Grizzlies vs Jazz Game 5 Preview: Grizzlies Won’t Go Down Without a Fight, But Jazz Set to Stroll Into the Second Round

The opener of the Grizzlies vs Jazz series saw the underdogs from Memphis snag a road win in Salt Lake City. But since then, it’s been all Jazz, and the Western Conference’s top seed could clinch the series tonight at home. Do the Grizzlies have one more road upset in them?

While Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks have stood tall for Memphis, the Grizzlies just have not had an answer for the Jazz over the last three games. It’s tough to see that changing tonight, but that does not diminish what the Grizzlies and their young core have shown over the last few weeks and overall this season.

As for the Jazz, a second-round date with the winner of the Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers series is on the horizon. With that series set to go at least six games, clinching tonight will give the Jazz a few extra days to rest and prepare for the next challenge.

Memphis Grizzlies (1-3) vs Utah Jazz (3-1), NBATV, 9:30 pm ET

Grizzlies vs Jazz Series Schedule and Results

• Sunday, May 23 | Game 1 (at Utah): Grizzlies 112-109 Jazz
• Wednesday, May 26 | Game 2 (at Utah): Jazz 141-129 Grizzlies
• Saturday, May 29 | Game 3 (at Memphis): Jazz 121-111 Grizzlies
• Monday, May 31 | Game 4 (at Memphis): Jazz 120-113 Grizzlies
• Wednesday, June 2 | Game 5 (at Utah): Grizzlies vs Jazz, NBATV, 9:30 pm ET
• Friday, June 4 | Game 6 (at Memphis): Jazz vs Grizzlies, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
• Sunday, June 6 | Game 7 (at Utah): Grizzlies vs Jazz, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Grizzlies vs Jazz Game 5 Betting Odds

• Spread: Grizzlies +9.5 (-110), Jazz -9.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 226 (-110), UNDER 226 (-110)
• Moneyline: Grizzlies +370, Jazz -480

Grizzlies vs Jazz Game 5 Betting Consensus

• Spread: 67% Grizzlies, 33% Jazz (at +/-9.5)
• Total: 78% OVER, 22% UNDER (at O/U 226.5)
• Moneyline: 0% Grizzlies, 100% Jazz

Grizzlies vs Jazz odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Wednesday, June 2 at 2:10 pm ET. For more NBA betting odds, check out our NBA odds page. It features updated odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.

Betting News uses an aggregation of picks from reputable industry sources for all NBA, MLB, and NHL games that are previewed on the site. For detailed Grizzlies vs Jazz betting information, including a source-by-source betting picks breakdown, check out the Grizzlies vs Jazz matchup page.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Outside Shooting and Poor Support for Stars Continues to Trip Up Grizzlies

Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant continue to lead the way for the Grizzlies in this series. In Game 4, Morant scored 23 points and Brooks 21. They have both hit the 20-point mark in each game of the series, with Morant averaging 31 points per game and Brooks 25.5 points per game.

But support from the rest of the roster continues to be a sore spot for Memphis. Jaren Jackson, Jr. had his best game in Game 4, scoring 21 points on 9 of 18 shooting. Jackson’s Game 4 performances makes his point prop for tonight’s game well worth considering.

Memphis Grizzlies Game 5 Points Props

• Ja Morant: OVER 25.5 (+100), UNDER 25.5 (-122)
• Dillon Brooks: OVER 21.5 (-104), UNDER 21.5 (-116)
• Jaren Jackson, Jr.: OVER 13.5 (-104), UNDER 13.5 (-116)

That trio should combine to win a lot of games for Memphis in the coming years, but it isn’t enough to beat the Jazz.

It’s not enough because only two other players scored in double figures for Memphis in Game 4. De’Anthony Melton had his best game of the series, scoring 15 points, while Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points. It’s also not enough because the Grizzlies continue to connect regularly from outside. In Game 4, they were 10 of 35 (28.6 percent) from three, and they are shooting 31.9 percent (38 of 119) from deep in the series. That is not going to get it done against one of the best teams in the NBA.

Unfortunately that partially falls on Brooks and Morant, as well as they have played otherwise. Ja is only 5 of 22 in the series and made only one of his seven attempts in Game 4, while Brooks is only 5 of 15 and missed his only three-point attempt in Game 4.

Outside shooting has not been a major strength for Memphis throughout the season. They were 20th in three-point shooting percentage in the regular season at a clip of 35.6 percent. But even if it is not their best attribute, making a few more would help their cause.

The odds are not favorable there, however. The Jazz were second in the regular season in defending the three, with opponents making only 34.1 percent from deep. Only the New York Knicks were better, coming in at 33.7 percent.

Jazz Strolling Towards Second Round Despite Not Being at Their Best Yet

It can seem like nitpicking to say that the Jazz could be better after how they have dominated the last three games to take control of the series. No, it’s an acknowledgement of what could come when they hit top gear.

Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 30 in Game 4, marking his third straight game with 25+ points. But he made only 8 of 22 (36.4 percent) from the field, and he is shooting only 39.1 percent (25 of 64) in three games. In the last two games, he has made only 4 of 17 shots from outside. In the regular season, he shot 43.8 percent from the field and a career-best 38.6 percent from three.

Jordan Clarkson, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, averaged only 15 points on 36.8 percent shooting in the first three games. But he scored a series-high 24 points in Game 4 and made 8 of 18 (44.4 percent) from the field. And after making only 3 of 21 from three in the first three games, he was 4 of 9 from three in the Game 4 win.

Joe Ingles averaged 12.1 points per game in the regular season and scored in double digits in the first two games of the Grizzlies vs Jazz series. But he has been a non-factor in the last two games, scoring five points in 47 minutes.

Utah Jazz Game 5 Points Props

• Donovan Mitchell: OVER 27.5 (-108), UNDER 27.5 (-114)
• Jordan Clarkson: OVER 15.5 (-104), UNDER 15.5 (-118)
• Bojan Bogdanovic: OVER 16.5 (-124), UNDER 16.5 (+102)
• Royce O’Neale: OVER 6.5 (-114), UNDER 6.5 (-108)

For the Jazz to not be firing on all cylinders and still dominating is a terrifying thought. Or it should be, at least. If the Nets and Bucks’ first-round performances are worthy of platitudes, so is what the Jazz have done in their last three games.

With the Los Angeles Lakers a loss from elimination and the Los Angeles Clippers’ passage into the Western Conference semifinals far from secure, the path to a Western Conference title could be far different than expected. With that in mind, now is a fine time to back the Jazz’s odds to win the Western Conference title. Currently, the Jazz are +140 favorites to win the West, as per BetOnline Sportsbook’s latest NBA futures odds.

As for tonight, it’s also a fine time to back the Jazz to cover and put in their best all-around performance of the series. Yes, the Grizzlies are the consensus spread play, and they will certainly put up a fight. But the Jazz took Games 2 and 3 by double digits and were in a good position to do the same in Game 4. The Grizzlies have fought hard, but it is likely this is where the road ends for them.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More