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Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions – Friday January 30, 2026
Memphis heads to New Orleans on Friday night for a 7:30 PM ET tip at Smoothie King Center, and this is one of those “somebody has to stop the bleeding” spots. The Grizzlies are 18-27 and sliding, while the Pelicans are 12-37 and basically hunting for signs of life and lineup stability more than standings movement.
The market is pricing New Orleans as a short home favorite, which tells you how little separation there is between these teams right now. That makes it a betting game, not a fandom game: who can create cleaner looks, protect the ball, and survive the ugly stretches.
Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep an eye on the latest NBA odds as numbers can move quickly with late availability news.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies | +119 | +2.5 (-109) | O/U 233.5 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -141 | -2.5 (-113) | O/U 233.5 |
Memphis Grizzlies Betting Form
Memphis is playing fast, but it has not looked stable. When the ball sticks or the turnovers spike, they end up taking low-quality threes late in the clock, and that is how you get buried in road stretches even when the effort is fine. The pace creates volume, but it also magnifies mistakes, especially if the primary creator is limited.
The biggest swing factor is who actually has the offense by the throat in this one. Ja Morant’s status has been a moving target lately, and he has missed time, so if he is out again you are basically betting on Memphis getting enough creation from the secondary guards while Jaren Jackson Jr. carries the scoring load.
If you want the macro view and recent trendlines in one place, here are the Memphis Grizzlies stats and results. Then check the linked Memphis Grizzlies injury report before you lock anything in.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Form
New Orleans is still struggling to string together complete games, but the path is pretty clear: they need Zion Williamson driving the offense, collapsing the defense, and forcing rotations that lead to either rim attempts or clean corner threes. When Zion is rolling, the Pelicans at least have an identity, and the market has to respect their ceiling more than their record.
The issue is the other side of the ball. Their defensive results have been rough, and they can get hurt in transition and on second chances when the effort dips or the lineups get small. Even in wins, it often feels like they need to score through mistakes instead of getting stops and cruising.
For the quick snapshot on splits and recent outcomes, use the New Orleans Pelicans schedule and stats. And make sure you review the linked New Orleans Pelicans injury report, because New Orleans has been a lineup domino team all season.
Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Matchup Breakdown
This game sets up as a pace and shot-volume fight. Memphis wants possessions. They are comfortable getting a lot of attempts up, and that matters versus a Pelicans defense that has allowed too many easy points when opponents push the tempo. If the Grizzlies can keep their live-ball turnovers under control, they can win the math battle: more shots, more threes, more chances to separate.
For New Orleans, the best version is Zion bending the floor and forcing Memphis into foul pressure and rotation chaos. The Grizzlies can get thin if they are missing creators, but they can still defend in bursts with Jaren Jackson Jr. as a rim presence. So the Pelicans’ edge is not just “Zion scores,” it’s “Zion creates rim pressure that leads to team-wide efficient offense.”
Situationally, I’m also looking at the late-game profile. Both teams can drift into messy fourth quarters, and totals in the 230s get decided by free throws, late fouling, and whether either side goes cold for three minutes. If you want a quick refresher on how to think about pricing spreads and totals in spots like this, the Expert Betting Guide is a solid reference point.
Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Memphis plus the points. The market is basically saying New Orleans is slightly better at home, but the Pelicans’ defensive floor is low enough that I do not love laying short numbers with them unless I know I’m getting a major availability advantage. If Morant is confirmed in, I like Memphis even more. If he is out, I still think the Grizzlies can hang because their pace and shot volume keeps them live.
On the total, I lean over 233.5, but I want you to treat it as more sensitive to personnel. If Memphis is short creators and the offense turns into late-clock threes, that can turn a “fast game” into a “fast game with empty possessions,” which is how overs die. If both sides have their primary engines and New Orleans is defending the way it has most of the season, the over is very playable.
My favorite angle is still the spread because it is less dependent on perfect shooting. I just need Memphis to avoid getting blitzed in one quarter and I’m in a good position.
Best Bet: Grizzlies +2.5
NBA Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re playing NBA daily, you should be comparing your reads against the market and against other bettors who track this stuff every night. The NBA picks page is a clean way to scan what’s being targeted across the slate, and the NBA previews hub is where you can cross-check matchup context before you bet.
For longer-term edge, follow the people who are actually beating numbers over time. Start with the Best Handicappers section, then sort and track consistency on the leaderboard. If you want to see how a broader card is being packaged, Buy Picks is the quickest way to browse options, and the NBA betting guide is useful when you’re tightening up process around sides, totals, and market timing.
