Memphis Grizzlies vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday October 29 2026

The NBA's late Thursday game features two undefeated teams and a reunion that should give the Moda Center plenty of energy. Memphis is 4-0 after three consecutive road victories, while Portland has started 3-0 with one of the league's most productive offenses. The matchup also marks Ja Morant's first game against the Grizzlies since his offseason trade to the Trail Blazers, turning a promising early-season contest into something more personal.

Portland has been priced as a substantial home favorite despite Memphis' unbeaten record. The Blazers have more established perimeter creators and are shooting efficiently, but the Grizzlies have been difficult to separate from because of their rebounding, defense and Ty Jerome's exceptional start. The central question is whether Portland can force the visitors to play at its pace without giving Memphis too many extra possessions.

Best Available Odds for Memphis Grizzlies vs Portland Trail Blazers

• Moneyline: Memphis +235 | Portland -290
• Spread: Memphis +7.5 (-110) | Portland -7.5 (-110)
• Total: 233.5 points

Game Info

• Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 10:00 PM ET | Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
• Memphis: 4-0 | Portland: 3-0

Memphis Grizzlies vs Portland Trail Blazers Preview

Memphis' start has been built on making its opponents work for everything. The Grizzlies beat Utah 123-103 at home to open the season, then won 111-108 at Golden State, 123-112 at Sacramento and 110-105 in Utah on Monday. Three road victories in different kinds of games suggest this is not simply a team benefiting from unusually hot shooting. Memphis has won close, defended late and found enough timely baskets to get through difficult final possessions.

Jerome is averaging nearly 30 points and 6.5 assists, taking over the primary scoring and creation workload in a way few expected before opening night. He can score out of ball screens, change speed in the lane and find teammates when help defenders commit. Rookie Cameron Boozer is already important on the glass, while Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey give the Grizzlies useful size and different defensive assignments. Jerami Grant, acquired as part of the Morant trade, gives them another veteran forward capable of spacing the floor.

The defensive challenge is significant. Portland scored 124 against Phoenix, 128 against Sacramento and 136 at the Lakers. The 136-129 victory in Los Angeles on Tuesday was especially impressive because the Blazers maintained their output against a team that received 41 points from Luka Doncic. Deni Avdija scored 23 with nine assists, while Morant also supplied 23 points in his best scoring performance since arriving in Portland.

Morant's first meeting with Memphis is a natural headline, but he is not the only Portland guard who can pressure a defense. Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday give the Blazers additional decision-makers, so defenses cannot devote every possession to containing Morant's penetration. Avdija has developed into another capable initiator, averaging more than 22 points through three games. The result is an attack that can maintain ball movement even when an opponent successfully takes away its first option.

Matchup Breakdown: Extra Possessions vs Portland's Shotmaking

The Grizzlies' best defensive work begins before Portland reaches the rim. Their perimeter defenders must slow Morant without requiring a second defender to abandon Lillard or Avdija on every drive. Edey's size can discourage direct attacks in the paint, but he also has to stay engaged against pick-and-roll actions that create space for Portland's guards. If Memphis protects the ball and controls defensive rebounds, it can keep Portland from running up another 125-plus-point night.

Portland presents its own problems on the glass. Donovan Clingan is a strong rebounder and offers a large target inside, while Toumani Camara adds length on the wing. Yet the Grizzlies are averaging 50 rebounds a game, and Boozer's contribution allows Memphis to compete for second chances without relying solely on Edey. The difference between a Portland possession ending after one shot and one extended by a second chance could be important in a game where each team has multiple players capable of scoring quickly.

Memphis also needs scoring beyond Jerome. Boozer can create pressure inside and Grant can pull a bigger defender away from the basket. The Grizzlies' 110-105 win at Utah was not an offensive exhibition, but it was evidence they can function when points are harder to obtain. They must use that patience against a Portland team that will try to accelerate the pace after turnovers and long rebounds.

The injury reports offer relatively few excuses for either side. Memphis had no listed absences in the available report. Portland is without Shaedon Sharpe following knee surgery, but Scoot Henderson and Branden Carlson have been cleared from earlier concerns. Sharpe's missing scoring makes the existing guards' roles more important, although the early results show Portland can compensate through collective creation.

Odds and Line Movement

Portland is favored by 7.5 points in the quoted market, with a moneyline around -290 and Memphis offered at +235. Other outlets have displayed Portland -8.5, which illustrates why the half-point and full-point differences matter to a spread bettor. That comparison alone does not establish a move over time at the same sportsbook. A separate series of recorded prices has shown some fluctuation within the 7-to-8-point range.

The total is near 233.5, with some listings at 234.5. Portland's first three games create an understandable temptation to back another scoring showcase, but Memphis has allowed just 107 points per game through four contests. The spread gives a more direct way to back the Grizzlies' defense and rebounding without predicting whether Portland shoots at its recent pace. See our NBA picks and predictions and the NBA odds board for the rest of the schedule.

Best Bet: Memphis Grizzlies +7.5 (-110)

Portland deserves respect as the likely winner at home, and Morant will be eager to make an impact against his former team. Still, Memphis has already shown it can defend in tight road games and create extra chances through its frontcourt. Jerome's ability to generate offense without constant transition opportunities gives the Grizzlies a credible route to keeping this game within two possessions.

The concern for this wager is Portland's depth of creators. If Lillard, Morant and Avdija all get downhill or find clean threes, Memphis could be stretched beyond its usual defensive comfort zone. The Grizzlies' rebounding and physicality should nevertheless prevent the Blazers from consistently separating. A Portland win by four or five points fits both teams' current form better than a runaway.

For a closer look at Morant assists or Jerome scoring, visit our NBA player props page. The single recommended play here is Memphis with the full-game points.

Final Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 120, Memphis Grizzlies 116.