Time: 8 p.m. ET
Reasoning: Here you have the old irresistible force vs. immovable object scenario with the NBA's best offense (Dallas) vs. the best defense (Memphis). I'll take the latter. The Grizzlies are no slouches on offense either, shooting 47.2%, fifth-best in the league. On Sunday they shot 58.9%, with the guard trio of Mike Conley, Courtney Lee and Tony Allen shooting a collective 21-for-25 from the field and nailing all five three-point attempts. In that one against Miami, Memphis got 20 points and 12 rebounds (in 24 minutes) from reserve Jon Leuer, who has cleared 50% shooting in 11 of his last 12 appearances. Lee is third in the NBA from behind the arc (52.8%) and he is averaging a career-high 12.6 points per game. Prior to Friday's loss to the Spurs, the Grizzlies won 22 straight at home. The Mavericks have played the league's second-easiest schedule and they are 1-3 against Top 10 teams. At home Memphis shoots 49.4% from the floor and 39.9% on threes. Dallas allows opponents 39.9% shooting from behind the arc. The Grizzlies are better at the line and on the boards. They also allow just 93.4 ppg. Memphis is 4-2 vs. the spread when favored by 4.5 or fewer points. The Mavs score 105.5 ppg on the road, but that is down from 110.6 overall. This is the highest total the Grizzlies have faced this season, and their game set at 202.5 vs. the L.A. Lakers on Nov. 26 featured 192 points.
Play: Sacramento +2.5 -110
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Reasoning: The Kings are without DeMarcus Cousins, but are they really going to need him against the Lakers? My power rankings say Sacramento would be favored by six with Cousins in the lineup. Here they are catching two and a hook against a Los Angeles team that is 3-14 vs. Top 16 teams. Kobe Bryant is tied for the league lead in scoring (25.2 points per game), but that's not all that difficult when you take all of the shots. Bryant is shooting just 38.9% and he was held to 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting in a 17-point home loss to New Orleans on Sunday. He is scoring just 19.3 ppg this month. Jordan Hill has cooled off as well, failing to record a double-double in the last three contests after reaching that status in eight of his previous 10. Rudy Gay has picked up Cousins' scoring slack by averaging 22.5 points in the six games that Cousins has missed. The Kings got a lift from Nik Stauskas in Monday's 101-92 victory vs. Utah when the rookie recorded 15 points and eight rebounds. The Lake Show has lost three straight. Against the Pelicans Los Angeles shot just 40%. The Lakers are 2-9 at home and are averaging just 92.7 ppg and are giving up 109.3 ppg during their three-game skid. Getting his first start, Sacramento F Reggie Evans secured 13 rebounds against the Jazz, who the Kings held to 40.5% shooting. Gay has scored 63 points in his last two tries against Los Angeles and Darren Collison, who had 16 against Utah, has averaged 19.3 ppg in his last three vs. the Lakers. Los Angeles allows 48.2% shooting overall and 38.5% from behind the arc. The Kings are great from the line and should dominate the Lakers on the glass. Los Angeles has been favored in exactly one game this season and it lost that contest to Minnesota on Nov. 28.
Record: 222-168-8 (56.9%)
Bankroll: +124.62%
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