The Miami Heat remain scheduled to visit the Memphis Grizzlies this Friday, for a tipoff at FedExForum set to begin at 8 p.m. EST. As of 30 hours prior, however, the contest on hardcourt was already destined to be in the background. Point guard Terry Rozier of the Heat has been arrested on illegal gambling charges, along with over 30 other NBA players, coaches, and associates who surrendered to the FBI on Thursday. Those charged are said to have organized crime ties, making it one of the NBA's worst headlines ever.
NBA bettors shouldn't fret a shift against legal sports gambling in a backlash from the story. The focus of the charges is on poker games in which celebrity ballers lured victims into a cheating scheme. Rozier is accused of feigning an injury problem, but no NBA teams have been accused of throwing their games at this time. It's too bad that a solid matchup like Miami-Memphis may be subject to some fans' skepticism.
There's still going to be a game, right? How will Miami's remaining cagers respond to a unique and difficult mental task like performing in the wake of Rozier's arrest? Meanwhile, it's bad taste to see the developing story's distraction as a betting opportunity - but the way the lines are reacting could reveal a thing or two.
Spread
- Heat +3 (-109)
- Grizzlies -3 (-101)
Money line
- Heat +133
- Grizzlies -141
Total
- Over 233.5 (-103)
- Under 233.5 (-100)
Note: The above data was collected on Oct. 24, 2025, and may have changed since writing.
Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies Betting Trends
- Memphis carries a three-game winning streak over Miami.
- Totals have gone under in five of the teams' last seven meetings.
- The Miami Heat are 4-2 in their last six games at FedExForum.
Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies Injury Reports
Miami Heat
- Guard Kasparas Jakucionis is out with a groin strain.
- Guard Tyler Herro is out for several weeks with a foot/ankle injury.
Memphis Grizzlies
- Guard Vince Williams Jr is out with a heel injury.
- Guard Ty Jerome is out with a calf strain.
- Guard Scotty Poppen Jr is out following toe surgery.
- Forward Brandon Clarke is out following knee surgery.
- Center Zack Edey is still out following ankle surgery.
- Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is questionable with ankle soreness.
- Guard Ja Morant is questionable with a similar ankle issue.
Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies Predictions and Picks
If the FBI's investigation is the headline of the month in sports, the fact that the Heat has actually gained steam in odds to beat the Grizzlies is the sports betting story of October. Why would Miami's betting action increase now that the 0-1 Heat faces a major distraction, the loss of a key bench player, and the up-tempo Memphis Grizzlies on their home court in one night? Memphis is too wounded in the backcourt to maintain its typically great scoring. There still has to be more behind a betting trend that favors the Miami Heat.
Any inkling of a defiant, inspired game from Miami is drowned out by the press coverage of hard news at this moment. Ja Morant's potential injury woes in Memphis are still coming over the wires five-by-five. The extra money line action on the Heat to win could be as simple as Morant's injury making speculators shy of the Grizzlies. Morant's 35 points led the way to a conquest of New Orleans in Memphis' season debut. Now, he's listed as questionable for the Miami tilt with an “ankle” issue, according to Damichael Cole on X.
Memphis can't be as breathless as usual with so many injury cases, and Miami's shooting touch could be the first thing to go if the club can't focus on hoops. Favor the under-total-points against a high O/U line.
