The Los Angeles Lakers are one of two Play-In Tournament teams that are up 3-1 in the first round. After Miami got the upper hand on the Bucks, the Lakers quickly followed in an overtime victory over the Grizzlies.

However, it could be a more challenging night for the series leaders as they return to Tennessee for Game 5. The pressure is on if they can deliver and finish Round 1 in five games. Ultimately, this do-or-die clash for Memphis is something that many basketball fans and bettors anticipate.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 NBA Playoffs. This time, let’s break down the upcoming playoff showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lakers vs. Grizzlies Game 5 2023 NBA Playoffs First-Round Information

• When: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
• Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• TV: TNT, BSSE-MEM, SPECSN
• Radio: 710 ESPNLA (Lakers) // ESPN 92.9 FM (Grizzlies)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Lakers (+4) / Grizzlies (-4)

READ MORE: Knicks vs. Cavaliers 2023 NBA Playoffs Odds and Game 5 Preview – April 26th

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

A healthy Lakers squad is not to be messed with. This is what the team continues to prove since getting through the Play-In Tournament. They booked a date with the Grizzlies and were slated as underdogs early on, but circumstances changed and they are now a game away from sending Memphis home.

In their most recent performance, the Lakers outshot the Grizzlies at 43.6% from the field. They were slightly better from deep and were careful in picking their attempts. Los Angeles hit ten of their 36 attempts from deep and drained 25 of 31 shots from the line. What made the difference for them in this one are the stops and late-game energy. They trailed by as much as 15 points but eventually closed the gap and forced overtime.

Austin Reaves led his team to victory with 23 points on seven of 16 shooting. LeBron accompanied him with a monster performance and collected 20 rebounds at the end of the clash. He also topped the team in assists with seven to his name.

The Los Angeles Lakers look like they are about to peak in the playoffs. This is perfect timing for a crew struggling early into the season. Game 5 is a must-watch for Lakers fans as they can book a ticket to the second round if they keep up the pace.

Why Bet on the Memphis Grizzlies?

It looks like the Grizzlies are not fine in the West after all. The Grizzlies just fell at the hands of the Lakers for the second time in a row. This puts them in danger of leaving the first round despite ranking first in the Southwest Division and the Western Conference’s second seed.

The visitors suffered an off-shooting night and hit only 39.6% of their looks from the field. They were also poor from beyond the arc and made only nine of 42 three-pointers. Desmond Bane topped the Grizzlies squad with 36 points on 13 of 29 from the field and a perfect seven of seven from the line. Ja Morant added another 19 to the scoreboard but failed to make any significant impact for his team as the star player. He did provide seven assists in 44 minutes of play.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been stellar for Memphis since the 2022-23 NBA campaign opening. He collected 14 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds. Memphis eventually finished the game just three boards behind the Lakers at 49 but dominated offensive rebounding with 16 offensive boards.

As the fifth-ranked defensive team with a 110.7 rating, we expected more from the Grizzlies in this series. If they can channel some home energy into their Game 5 performance, we might see the tides turn for Taylor Jenkins and the rest of the crew.

Lakers vs. Grizzlies Betting Trends

• The Lakers lost three of their last five playoff games on the road (2-3 ATS).
• The Lakers are 2-2 in their last four road games (1-3 ATS).
• The totals have gone over in four of the Lakers’ last five road contests.
• The Grizzlies won three of their last five postseason games at FedExForum (4-1 ATS).
• The Grizzlies are 5-5 in their last ten meetings with the Lakers (4-6 ATS).
• The totals have gone under in two of Memphis’ last four home playoff games.

Lakers vs. Grizzlies Game 5 Expert Betting Predictions

The Lakers are firing on all cylinders right now. Steven Adams’ absence cannot be filled by a young Grizzlies core squad. It’s scary to think what this Lakers squad is capable of when fully healthy, and we saw things unfold as soon as the series started.

Memphis was good enough to square up the series earlier, but you can’t help but feel that it was more of a Lakers problem then than the Grizzlies stepping up. Russell and Davis still have off nights for the Lakers, while Davis, Reaves, and Hachimura deliver consistent numbers. Los Angeles can easily cover the spread at their current pace and even close Round 1 on the road.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.