Stephen Nover's NBA Friday Top Ticket
(NBA) San Antonio vs. Memphis, 12/01/2017 3:00 PM, Score: 95 - 79
Total: 193.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
San Antonio gives up fewer points per game than all but one team. The Spurs have gone Under in seven of their nine road games this season.

Memphis ranks sixth in both defensive scoring and defensive field goal percentage. The Grizzlies have gone Under in nine of their 11 home contests this season.

So there is a clear pattern of Unders involving the home/road breakdowns of these two strong defensive clubs.

Now let's get down to the specific matchup. The two teams just met on Wednesday in San Antonio. The Spurs won 104-95. So that was a total of 199 points, which went Over the 195 total.

This total opened lower. But for good reason. The teams combined to make 34 of 40 free throws for 85 percent in Wednesday's game. Both are above average free throw shooting teams, but not nearly that good. The Spurs and Grizzlies both shoot 79 percent from the foul line.

Memphis made 11 of 22 shots from 3-point range. The Grizzlies rank 29th in 3-point shooting hitting 33 percent. The Spurs shot 50.7 percent from the floor. LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 41 points on 17 of 24 shooting from the field. San Antonio ranks 16th in field goal percentage at 45.6 percent.

Aldridge is an outstanding player and he's have a great season. But the Grizzlies aren't going to let him beat them again. Memphis is in desperation mode, losers of nine in a row. This will be their second game under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

I can't back the Grizzlies when they don't have Mike Conley, who is out with an Achilles injury. Memphis is averaging 90.6 points in its last six games - all without their star point guard.

Tony Parker is back for San Antonio. This is just his third game, though, of the season. So he's still rusty.

Put this all together and I believe Under is the way to go.