NBA Basketball BETTING PREVIEW - Toronto Raptors @ Memphis Grizzlies

NBA Basketball

2026-04-03 - Toronto Raptors at Memphis Grizzlies

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Toronto Raptors @ Memphis Grizzlies
United States : NBA Basketball
Friday 3rd April 2026 - Scheduled 8pm EST
1am (British Time)

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Preview

Injuries have piled up and the Memphis Grizzlies (25-51) are going to be concluding the season by giving rookies every chance to impress. They are making up the roster with short-term contracts, but that does mean all of those still active have something to prove as they perhaps hope to show they are good enough to join a NBA team on a longer contract next season.

Credit has to be given to the team for continuing to battle, but there is a big gap between the Grizzlies and the competition they are going to be facing, especially without key contributors available.

Next up is the Toronto Raptors (42-34) who are desperately trying to fight their way into the top six in the Eastern Conference.

However, a loss to the Sacramento Kings last time out will have been a bodyblow to absorb as it would be at this stage of the season when being beaten by a team with the fourth fewest regular season wins. The Raptors have made it clear that they cannot afford such a slip again with games running out and the team outside of the top six in the Eastern Conference on a tie-breaker and with the Atlanta Hawks only 1.5 games ahead of them in the Number 5 spot.

Scottie Barnes is playing through the pain to give the Raptors all he has- earning a direct spot into the First Round of the Playoffs will mean having almost a week of rest rather than having to join the Play In Tournament which is played just a couple of days after the regular season ends.

This is going to be giving Barnes the motivation to suit up and give his team what he has, but he will need support.

The Raptors have been inconsistent over the last couple of weeks, which has seen them lose the grip on a top six spot in the Conference, but they are still shooting the ball well enough. That is something they should be able to do in this game against the inexperience of the Grizzlies, who have allowed an average of 125 points per game across the last five played.

In relation to this spread, the key for Toronto is making enough stops to pull away- it is nearing the end of the regular season so double digit spreads become a regular feature and that is the case across the Friday NBA schedule.

Memphis showed against the New York Knicks that even falling into a 22 point deficit is not going to see the players crumble- they fought back in that game and were eventually beaten by 11 points, although the Grizzlies were more than competitive going into the Fourth Quarter.

Ignoring that would be a mistake from Toronto, although the defeat to the struggling Sacramento Kings should have refocused the squad and reminded them that nothing can be taken for granted.

Covering is not going to be easy, but over the last couple of weeks, Toronto have earned big wins over Utah, New Orleans and Orlando and they may have just enough firepower to do that here.

They do have a big game on deck against the Boston Celtics, but that will mean little if Toronto are to lose to another struggling opponent who are not going to be playing in the post-season. That last defeat to the Sacramento Kings feels like the big factor that can just get this Raptors team in a position to roll in this game.

Prediction

Lay the points with the road favourite.

The Pick :

Memphis Grizzlies 110-125 Toronto Raptors

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Toronto Raptors - 13 Points at -105 with Bovada