Injury report: Memphis: Steven Adams (Questionable, Ankle Soreness), Zaire Willaims (Out, RIght Patellar Tendinitis), Jaren Jackson Jr (Out, Recovery From Foot Surgery), Danny Green (Out, Recovery From Left Knee Surgery)
San Antonio: Doug Mcdermott (Questionable, Ankle), Zach Collins (Out, Lower Leg), Blake Wesley (Out, Knee)
Projected Starting Lineups:
Memphis: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama
San Antonio: Tre Jones, Devin Vassel, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl
After finishing their 3-game Home-Stand with a loss to Boston the Grizzlies look to bounce back against the San Antonio Spurs in their first matchup of the year. The Spurs enter this game on a 4 game-losing streak after coming off back-to-back losses to a tough Nuggets Team. The Grizzles are hot right now as they have won three of their last 4.
This is a game where the Grizzlies will have a huge advantage in the talent category, but this spurs team is young, determined, and hungry for a very much-needed win. We also will have a little brotherly matchup between Tre and Tyus Jones. Let's get to some keys of the game for Memphis.
( Photo by Justin Ford, Getty Images)
Can Ja Continue His Spurs Dominance
Ever since Ja came into the NBA in 2019, the Grizzlies have a 10-5 record against the Spurs including six straight victories. For his career against San Antonio Morant is Averaging over 27 points, and 7 assists on 58% shooting and 50% from the triple. This includes his career-high 52 points last season which had some of the craziest highlights. After starting off the season hot Morant has cooled down since his illness. A game against the Spurs is might what he needs to get back on track.
Guard the Outside
The Grizzlies' biggest problems have come on the defensive side of things, especially on the outside. They are 24th in the NBA in opponents' three-pointers made giving up a little under 13 threes a game. The Spurs have also been splendid from the arc this season. They are 6th in the league for three-pointers made per game with 13 and 7th in the league in efficiency shooting 38% on the season. If the Grizzlies want to get a win, it will have to start by guarding the triple.
Desmond Bane Vs Devin Vassel
The matchup to watch this game is between two young shooting guards that have been very good to start the season. Bane is averaging 24-5-5 to start the year and is shooting over 40% from the arc this season. His playmaking has also been very good.
Vassel has also been good to start the season averaging 20 points a game for the first time in his young NBA career. He has also been very effective as a defender and could provide some issues on that end and maybe could be the Ja stopper.
Overall the Grizzlies have a way better roster and should pull away early. but at the end of the day, the Spurs do play hard so it should be a close game to start.
Game Prediction: Grizzlies 120 Spurs 103
Game MVP: Ja Morant or Brandon Clarke
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