Plenty of young talent will be on hand this evening in Las Vegas. Among Thursday’s must-watch matchups, Hawks vs. Grizzlies stands out. Atlanta made two selections during the first round of 2026’s NBA Draft. Eighth overall pick Kingston Flemings is expected to lead the team during tonight’s contest. On the other side, Memphis will counter with third overall selection Cam Boozer. Which of these Southeastern squads will come out on top this evening?
The Hawks enter as 1.5-point favorites with -130 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Grizzlies are +110 underdogs, with the game total set at 183.5 points. Let’s dive into a preview, pick and prediction for today’s matchup.
Hawks vs. Grizzlies preview, prediction
Flemings has been the straw that stirs the drink for Atlanta, although that hasn’t translated to monster counting stats (10.0 PPG, 6.8 AST). To boot, he’s been fairly inefficient from the field (31.8 FG%). Still, it’s likely just a matter of time until the Houston alum begins to shine on that end of the floor. It helps that he’s already an above-average playmaker and perimeter defender. Through three games in Vegas, fellow guard Kobe Johnson has been putting up buckets (19.3 PPG). Ditto for rookie second-rounder Henri Veesaar (13.3 PPG), a double-double machine during his time at North Carolina.
With that being said, the biggest standout this summer for Atlanta is Zuby Ejiofor. The 23rd overall pick hasn’t been perfect, but his play should have Hawks fans excited heading into the season. Through four Summer League appearances, the former Big East Player of the Year has notched 13.0 PPG, 9.0 REB, 2.5 AST and 1.5 STL. It’s not an eye-popping stat line, but all-around production is what made the 6’9″ big man coveted during the draft process. In addition, he’s been a respectable shooter from beyond the arc (35.3 3PT%).
As for the Grizzlies, this offseason is all about Cam Boozer. The former Duke captain is the undisputed face of the franchise following June’s Ja Morant trade with Portland. So far, the center is looking the part of a future All-Star. Over five Summer League games, he’s recorded 17.8 PPG, 6.4 REB and 3.6 AST. In addition, he’s accounted for efficient 51/45/80 shooting splits. At this point, there isn’t much left for Boozer to showcase in Las Vegas.
Rounding out the rest of this Grizzlies roster are several intriguing names with NBA experience. That includes Cedric Coward, one of the better rookies in the association last year. Over 62 games in the pros, the wing posted 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Down low, big men Olivier-Maxence Prosper (15.5 PPG, 5.0 REB) and Taylor Hendricks (10.7 PPG, 4.0 REB) have been effective during the Las Vegas portion of Summer League. Among Memphis players with at least two appearances in Sin City, five are averaging double-digit points.
Hawks vs. Grizzlies pick, best bet
When these teams met in Salt Lake City on July 7th, the Hawks delivered a commanding 96-82 victory. However, Boozer sat out during that contest. Assuming he’s active, don’t be shocked if Memphis flips the script tonight. The Grizzlies possess plenty of NBA talent, highlighted by the duo of Boozer and Coward. With respect to a sneaky-good Atlanta roster, Memphis presents plenty of value on Thursday at plus money.
