Hornets try to Hold the Mayo – New Orleans at Memphis

New Orleans Hornets (30-18 SU, 21-25-2 ATS) at Memphis Grizzlies (14-36 SU, 18-31-1 ATS)  

BetOnline NBA Basketball Betting Odds: MEMPHIS -2, Total 188

Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NO has lost four of its last six games SU

* NO has covered two of its last six games SU

* NO has played its last five games OVER the total

* NO has lost four of its last six road games SU

* NO has covered two of its last six road games

* NO has played six of its last eight road games OVER the total

* MEM has covered three of its last 16 games

* MEM has lost 13 of its last 16 games SU

* MEM has played five of its last six games OVER the total

* MEM has lost eight of its last ten home games SU

* MEM has covered two of its last ten home games

* MEM has played nine of its last 13 games UNDER the total

Also…

* NO has won the last seven meetings SU

* Eleven of the last 12 meetings have gone OVER the total

* NO has won five of the last six meetings SU as the road team

* Five of the last six meetings in Memphis have gone OVER the total

* NO has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings

* NO has made more three-pointers in each of the last five meetings

New Orleans is making the short trip to Memphis tonight after its hard-earned win over Minnesota on Sunday, a 101-97 game in which Rasual Butler was a pleasant surprise with 23 points and eight rebounds, aided by 18 points for Sean Marks, which was an absolute shocker and the best offensive output of his career. We mention those things because Chris Paul has missed the last three games with his strained right groin, and it’s quite possible the Hornets could beat this Memphis team with its second unit.

David West assumed the center duties on Sunday night in place of Tyson Chandler, who has been out ten games with a sprained ankle. West committed a hard foul against the T-Wolves last night and the NBA is reviewing it to see if he will receive a suspension. If he does play, he should be more than enough to deal with Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies.

 Memphis has been short-handed as well, playing Saturday’s game without Rudy Gay, who has a hip injury, and Kyle Lowry, a valuable reserve point guard, who has a sprained ankle. By the way, in that weekend contest the Grizzlies chalked up an ugly 78-70 win over Toronto, despite shooting just 38.5% from the field and only 29.4% from beyond the arc. Five members of the Memphis team had eight rebounds in the game, and one of them was O.J. Mayo, who scored 16 points.

Mayo had a torrid three-game stretch where he made 33 of 56 shots and tallied 86 points, but has cooled off with 9-for-28 in his last two games. Memphis has unquestionably played better lately, winning three of its last four games, but for New Orleans this is a division game, and the Hornets have risen tot he occasion, with wins in the last seven meetings. We’re still nervous about laying any points with the Grizzlies, so we’re on the take with New Orleans, the two-point underdog in the BetOnline Sportsbook betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY:  NEW ORLEANS -2 *
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from the top of the key as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)