Memphis Grizzles at LA Lakers, Picks, Odds, Preview, and Prediction, Friday, January 2, 2026
It’s a Western Conference showdown between two playoff hopefuls on Friday, Jan. 2. Read our Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers prediction along with along with our other NBA Picks. The Grizzlies are 15-18 and they are in ninth place in the West. They have won six of their last 11 games entering this matchup. The Lakers are 20-11 and they are in fifth place in the West, but they have lost four of their last five games. These two teams will meet with tip-off set for 10:30 P.M. EST.
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Memphis finding form with Ja Morant
Memphis is 15-18 overall this season. The Grizzlies are in ninth place in the Western Conference as they are six games back of sixth place. They are also two games ahead of Utah for a play-in spot. The Grizzlies are 8-9 when playing on the road this year. They have won six of their last 11 games coming into this matchup. Memphis has also won three of their last five road games.
In their last game, the Grizzlies lost 139-136 in overtime to the 76ers at home on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Ja Morant hit a game-tying shot in the final minute to send the game to overtime. Morant nailed a shot in the final 20 seconds of OT to tie the game, too. But, Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe hit the game-winning 3-pointer to win the game. Morant had a massive game scoring a game-high 40 points on 16-for-22 shooting.
Jaren Jackson Jr. leads the team with 18.5 points per game. Santi Aldama is grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game, while Vince Williams Jr. is passing for a team-high 4.9 assists per game.
Memphis ranks 25th in offensive efficiency, while they are also the 11th ranked defensive efficient team. The Grizzlies are also the eighth ranked rebounding team in the league.
Memphis is averaging 115.9 points per game, which ranks 18th in the league. They are the 24th ranked shooting team, making 45.7% from the field. The Grizzlies are hitting 35% from behind the 3-point line, which ranks 20th.
On defense, Memphis is allowing 116.6 points per game, which ranks 16th. They are the 11th ranked defensive team allowing 46.4% from the field. The Grizzlies are also allowing 36.3% from behind the 3-point line, which ranks 19th.
The Grizzlies are 15-18 against the spread this season. They are 4-2 against the spread with at least two days of rest. Memphis is 8-9 against the spread when playing on the road. They are also 7-13 against the spread with an equal amount of rest as their opponents. The under is 20-13 when the Grizzlies have played this season. The over is 11-9 with equal amount of rest. The under is 13-6 when playing as an underdog.
The Lakers struggles continue, losing 4 of last 5 games
The Lakers are 20-11 overall this season. They are in fifth place in the Western Conference, as they are 7.5 games back of the Thunder for first place. Los Angeles is also tow games ahead of the Suns to avoid the play-in round. They are 8-6 when they have played at home this season. They have fallen out of form recently, losing four of their last five games.
In their latest game, the Lakers lost 128-106 to the Pistons at home on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The Lakers were dominated as their largest lead was just one point in the loss. Los Angeles shot 45% from the field and 28% from behind the 3-point line. The Lakers turned the ball over 21 times, which led to 30 points for Detroit. Luka Doncic led the team with 30 points on 9-for-22 shooting.
Doncic leads the team with 33.5 points per game and 8.7 assists per game. Deandre Ayton is grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game, too.
The Lakers are the seventh-best offensive efficient team in the league. They also rank 24th in defensive efficiency and they are the 15th ranked rebounding team.
The Lakers are averaging 116.9 points per game, which ranks 14th in the league. They are the second-best shooting team in the league with 49.9% from the field. They are the sixth-worst 3-point shooting team making 34.6% from behind the arc.
On defense, the Lakers are allowing 117.3 points per game, which ranks 18th. They are the third-worst defensive team, allowing 49% from the field. The Lakers are also allowing 38.3% from behind the 3-point line, which ranks second-worst.
The Lakers are 17-14 against the spread this season. Los Angeles is 8-2 against the spread after a loss. They are also 6-4 against the spread with two days off along with a 9-7 against the spread record as a favorite. The over is 20-11 when the Lakers have played this season. The over is 7-1 when the Lakers have played as a home favorite. The over is 7-3 when the Lakers have had a two day rest.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Grizzlies vs Lakers Spread Pick
- Los Angeles Lakers -4 (5 units)
It’s been a tough stretch for the Lakers as they have lost four of their last five games. They are coming off a disappoint defeat to Detroit, where the Pistons dominated them. But, the Lakers have the pieces to pull things together and get the train back on the track. Luka Doncic continues to be one of the best scoring options in the sport and the team has responded to losses well. The Lakers are 8-2 against the spread after a loss. The Grizzlies are struggling for consistency on the season, but the offense hasn’t been good enough to compete in high scoring games. They have the sixth-worst offensive efficient team, which will not help them secure the win. Memphis is 7-13 against the spread with an equal amount of rest as their opponents.
Take the Lakers to cover.
Grizzlies vs Lakers Over/Under Pick
- Over 238 (5 Units)
The Grizzlies and the Lakers will be playing in a high scoring game. The pace of this game will be quick as Memphis is the third fastest team in the NBA. The over is 11-9 with equal amount of rest for the Grizzlies. The offense has also been moving for the Lakers. They have the seventh-best offensive efficient team in the sport. The over is 20-11 when the Lakers have played this season. The over is 7-1 when the Lakers have played as a home favorite.
Take the over on Friday.
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