The New Orleans Pelicans (40-39, 25-14 Home) host the Memphis Grizzlies (50-29, 15-23 Away) Wednesday in a game that may see lower point totals. Both teams will be playing their second game in as many days. The Grizzlies are 6-5 without rest, while the Pelicans are 4-7.
Memphis beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-109 at FedExForum yesterday. With 30 points and seven rebounds, Desmond Bane was the standout player. The Grizzlies are second in the Western Conference, three games behind the Denver Nuggets.
New Orleans lost in blowout fashion yesterday at Smoothie King Center, falling to the Sacramento Kings 121-103. Brandon Ingram had 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the loss, leading the team.
The Pelicans are the seventh seed in the Western Conference. It’s the final meeting of the season between the teams. New Orleans will be looking to even the season series after triumphing in only one of the three prior meetings.
Memphis won the most recent showdown 116-101 at FedExForum in December 2022. Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 32 points and eight assists. Zion Williamson had 20 points in defeat.
Morant is averaging 26.4 points per game, 10th-highest in the NBA, to lead the Grizzlies in scoring this season. Morant also has dished 8.1 assists per game, seventh-most in the NBA. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. is grabbing 6.8 rebounds. CJ McCollum (20.7 ppg) has supplied much of the Pels’ offense.
McCollum also has doled out 5.8 assists per game. Jonas Valanciunas has pulled down 10.1 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies and the Pelicans are two of the stingiest defenses in the NBA, ranking first and fifth in defensive efficiency, respectively.
The Grizzlies have had limited success at Smoothie King Center in recent seasons, losing eight of the last 10 visits. Memphis is 8-2 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +6.3 (122.8-116.5).
For the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 116.7 points per game, compared to 112.6 for opponents. New Orleans has gone 7-3 over the last 10, scoring 115.9 points per game on average while allowing 104.4 (+11.5 margin). The Pelicans are averaging 114.2 ppg for the full season while allowing 112.3.
GRIZZLIES HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Luke Kennard: 21.2 | 13.2 | +8.0
Points per game:
Tyus Jones: 5.5 | 10.3 | -4.8
Rebounds per game:
Xavier Tillman: 7.6 | 5.0 | +2.6
PELICANS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Zion Williamson: 0.0 | 36.3 | -36.3
Points per game:
Trey Murphy III: 17.6 | 14.0 | +3.6
Zion Williamson: 0.0 | 25.1 | -25.1
Rebounds per game:
Zion Williamson: 0.0 | 6.7 | -6.7
Assists per game:
Brandon Ingram: 7.0 | 5.6 | +1.4
CJ McCollum: 4.0 | 5.8 | -1.8
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
NO Pelicans (-250)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
