NBA Tuesday best bets: Can Mavs topple Morant-less Grizzlies?
We only have three bets for Tuesday's five-game slate. Let's not waste any time and get right to them.
Grizzlies @ Mavericks (-8.5, O/U 234.5)
The Grizzlies were putting together an impressive run over the last few weeks as they made a playoff push from the West basement. Those hopes were dispelled Monday when it was announced that Ja Morant is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Memphis played the first 25 games without Morant and went 6-19. The return of his scoring and playmaking prowess turned the Grizzlies into the dangerous team they'd been the past two seasons.
Memphis will return to the bottom of the West standings in what will become a lost season. It's hard to imagine the Grizzlies will bring maximum effort and enthusiasm for Tuesday's game after Monday's Morant news.
Mavs stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are healthy and playing at an elite level beside each other. This could be a blowout in Dallas.
Pick: Mavs -8.5
Kings @ Pistons (+11, O/U 240)
The Pistons have the league's fourth-worst defense, and the Kings also rank in the bottom 10. Sacramento's offense has been inconsistent, but this is the perfect game for it to get back on track.
The Pistons are by no measure a talented offensive group, but they're averaging 122.5 points per game over their last six contests. If they get anywhere close to that mark Tuesday, the game will certainly go over.
Detroit has the NBA's second-best over record with 64% of its contests surpassing the total. Both of these teams also rank in the top 11 in pace, meaning there should be a lot of possessions and opportunities for them to score.
Pick: Over 240
Immanuel Quickley: Over 4.5 assists
Immanuel Quickley's role on the Raptors is different than his one on the Knicks. He has a greater responsibility as a playmaker while playing more minutes as part of Toronto's starting lineup.
Quickley averaged less than three assists with the Knicks this season while being used as a scoring spark off the bench. Through four games in Toronto, he's averaging 6.5 assists.
The 24-year-old Quickley has recorded at least five dimes in his last three games, and Tuesday shouldn't be any different against a below-average Lakers defense.
Odds: -120 (playable to -130)
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.