Lakers First-Round Odds Dramatically Shift After Game 1 Win Over Grizzlies, Ja Morant Injury
Today, your Los Angeles Lakers flat-out stole the opening game of their 2-7 series against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 128-112 late-game victory thanks to terrific three-point shooting all around, fast break offense, aggressive rebounding and the dominant two-way post play of Anthony Davis.
Perhaps most critically for both sides going forward, the Grizzlies' best player, Ja Morant, had to depart the action midway through the fourth quarter due to a right hand injury, with Memphis trailing by just four points at the time. Morant sounded somewhat skeptical he would be healthy in time for the second game of this postseason matchup, set for Wednesday night.
Per Bleacher Report, FanDuel's projected odds for LA to defeat Memphis in their first round playoff series and advance have suddenly completely swung in the Lakers' favor.
LA is now considered a -250 odds-on favorite to move on, and Memphis has become a +205 underdog. It's quite the reversal from the start of the series, when Memphis, the higher seed with a 51-31 record (LA went 43-39 in the regular season), was expected to move on despite season-ending injuries to starting center Steven Adams and key reserve big man Brandon Clarke.
Los Angeles will get treated to some major rest ahead of the two teams' next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday in FedEx Forum. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT.
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