Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers
Crypto.com Arena
The pick & result
- Published pick
- Memphis Grizzlies +4.5 -102
- Published odds
- -102
- Result
- Lost
- Final score
- 121-128
Odds are the American price printed with this pick, not a current offer. Wins, losses and pushes remain on the public record; a missing grade is not a win.
The read
TALE OF THE TAPE
Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Record 20-11 ← 15-18 Off Rating 117.1 ← 110.3 Def Rating 116.7 → 113.0 Net Rating +0.4 ← -2.7 Key Injuries Reaves (OUT) Edey (OUT)
Gary's Take The market is still pricing the Los Angeles Lakers like a contender, but their recent tape tells a much uglier story. The Lakers are 1-4 in their last five games, including catastrophic home losses to the Pistons and Rockets where their defense looked completely broken. Their Defensive Rating sits at a porous 116.7, and tonight they are without Austin Reaves—their second-leading scorer (26.6 PPG) and a crucial connector in their offense. Without Reaves, the scoring burden falls entirely on Luka Doncic and LeBron James, making the offense predictable and easier to scheme against.
Memphis is dealing with its own injury crisis in the frontcourt, but they have proven far more resilient, logging recent wins against the Bucks and Jazz. While the Grizzlies lack the size to stop Deandre Ayton inside, the Lakers' perimeter defense is so compromised right now that Ja Morant should have free rein to attack the paint. This spread feels like a trap for bettors expecting a Lakers bounce-back, but the chemistry and effort just aren't there right now to justify laying points against a scrappy Grizzlies squad. I'll take the points with the team that plays harder.
Injuries noted
Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells (Day-To-Day) — Jan 2: Wells is probable for Friday's game against the Lakers with left hamstring soreness.; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Day-To-Day) — Jan 2: Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) is probable for Friday against the Lakers.; Vince Williams Jr. (Out) — Jan 1: Williams (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Lakers.; Brandon Clarke (Out) — Dec 22: Clarke (calf) has sustained a Grade 2 right calf strain and will be reevaluated in about three weeks.; John Konchar (Out) — Dec 15: Konchar underwent successful left thumb surgery Thursday and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.; Zach Edey (Out) — Dec 11: Edey (ankle) will be re-evaluated in about four weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.; Ty Jerome (Out) — Nov 22: Jerome (calf) will be held out of games for at least 6-to-9 weeks.; Scotty Pippen Jr. (Out) — Oct 18: Pippen will undergo a procedure for a left big toe injury and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Saturday.
Los Angeles Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt (Day-To-Day) — Jan 2: Vanderbilt (leg) is probable for Friday's game against the Grizzlies, Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times reports.; Gabe Vincent (Out) — Jan 1: Vincent (back) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Grizzlies.; Adou Thiero (Out) — Dec 31: Thiero will miss at least four weeks with a right MCL sprain, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.; Rui Hachimura (Out) — Dec 30: Hachimura has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Pistons and will also miss the Lakers' two-game set against the Grizzlies on Friday and Sunday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.; Austin Reaves (Questionable) — Dec 26: Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
About this analysis
- Who made it
- Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
- Published data
- Daily picks first stored January 2, 2026 at 4:59 PM ET.
- Odds record
- The pick receipt shows the price printed in the published ticket. The matchup market and line ladder provide separate market context. Source names were not retained with this pick.
- Accountability
- Read the editorial standards, source policy, and corrections process.
Props on this game
2- GARY'S PICKLEBRON JAMESPOINTS UNDER 23.5
Look, I’ve seen LeBron do the impossible for three decades, but Father Time and the scheduling gods are a nasty combo. We’re talking about a 41-year-old man playing a matinee game with less than 16 hours of recovery after a Friday night battle.
His season average is already sitting below this line at 20.3 points, and with Luka Doncic now the undisputed alpha in the Lakers' system, LeBron is more than happy to play the facilitator role on short rest. I expect the King to conserve his energy, focus on playmaking, and leave the heavy scoring to the younger legs.
This is a classic 'business trip' game where he does just enough to stay relevant without chasing a 25-point night.
- GARY'S PICKJA MORANTPOINTS OVER 21.5
Ja Morant doesn't just play in Los Angeles; he puts on a show. He’s coming off a massive 40-point explosion where he looked completely unstoppable, and now he gets to face a Lakers defense that has basically been a revolving door lately, ranking 29th in the league.
With JJ Redick publicly calling out his team's effort, you know the vibes are low in that Lakers locker room. Ja is going to smell blood in the water and attack the paint all night long.
He’s the engine of this Grizzlies offense, and in a high-paced game where the total is north of 240, 22 points is a walk in the park for a guy who just hung 40 on the board.
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