The Memphis Grizzlies (4-0) travel to face the Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) Thursday night in a matchup of the NBA's last three unbeaten teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at the Moda Center.
Portland opens as a 7.5-point home favorite with an over/under of 232.5 points, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Blazers are attracting 86% of the money and 82% of tickets on the spread, while the over is receiving similar support.
The game marks Ja Morant's first meeting with his former team since being traded to Portland in June. The 27-year-old guard is averaging 16.3 points on 58.8% shooting and 6.3 assists per game. His prop line for points plus assists is set at 24.5.
Portland's offense leads the league at 129.3 points per game, along with the most made field goals (45.7) and the best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.24). Damian Lillard has returned to form with 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, while forward Deni Avdija contributes 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
Memphis has been carried by journeyman guard Ty Jerome, who is averaging a staggering 29.8 points per game after a career mark of 9.7. Jerome leads the NBA in second-half scoring (19.0) and fourth-quarter scoring (10.0) among players with at least three games played, making him the early favorite for Most Improved Player.
Both coaches are in the Coach of the Year conversation: Portland's Micah Nori at +1500 and Memphis' Tuomas Iisalo at +1400. Nori took over after Tiago Splitter's departure, while Iisalo guides a Grizzlies roster rebuilt around rookies Cameron Boozer and Cedric Coward and third-year center Zach Edey.
Portland won three of four meetings last season, including the last three at home. The Grizzlies are on a four-game road trip and have not swept a trip of at least four games since November 2013. A projection model favors the Blazers 117-111.
