No matter how hard you try, you cannot find a sports matchup with more Z’s than Jazz-Grizzlies. But unlike last season, this matchup won’t be putting you to sleep. Both teams underwent big changes in the offseason and are sneaky contenders to make a run to the postseason and jump-start their rebuilds. This one will be an eye-opener.
The Grizzlies enter as 1.5-point home favorites with -120 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Jazz are +100 underdogs, with the game total set at 238.5 points.
Jazz vs. Grizzlies Preview
The Jazz have spent years languishing in the lottery, trying to rebuild through the draft. General manager Danny Ainge has stockpiled plenty of picks, a trove the Jazz are far from close to exhausting. But they’ve decided it’s time to get going—Jaren Jackson Jr., the former Grizzlies star, is headed to the mountains as their new defensive anchor. Alongside Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen, he gives Utah an interesting star trio to build on. They also made a point of bringing in veterans, extending Jusuf Nurkic while adding Josh Green, Jaxson Hayes, and Josh Okogie.
This team’s ceiling is all about the young players. Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick in the last draft, is one of the most dynamic shooters to ever come out of the NCAA. He’ll get a ton of usage on and off the ball, and he has some underrated defensive chops. Ace Bailey developed well last year as an on-ball defender and scorer, and will be an important part of Utah’s rotation. They also have guys like Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh who have shown NBA-level talent. If one or two of them pop, Utah will have a deep, skilled rotation.
Memphis also ushered in a new era this offseason. After JJJ was traded to the Jazz, there was only one remnant of their old core: Ja Morant. Now that Morant is in Portland, the Grizzlies have a clean break and can move forward with their new star man. Cam Boozer, easily my favorite prospect in this last draft, tumbled down to No. 3. The jumbo do-it-all forward is projected to be the engine of Memphis’ offense out of the gate, and showed off in Summer League and preseason action.
And Booz sure has a lot of help. When healthy, Zach Edey is one of the most impactful centers in basketball. His ability to protect the paint and inhale rebounds is hard to find elsewhere, and he’s set to form an excellent frontcourt duo with Boozer. Ty Jerome, one of the most efficient guards in basketball, showed he’s ready to step into a bigger role this season. Beyond Boozer, the team has plenty of promising young talent: Cedric Coward, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jaylen Wells have shown potential early in their careers. With Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post arriving to shore up the center spot, head coach Tuomas Iisalo now has a deep rotation to work with.
It’s all about establishing the Grizzlies’ identity. Last season, they were bad on both ends of the floor and now face the challenge of building from the ground up. Will this team lean into its youth and talent by playing fast and setting the tone offensively? Will Iisalo use his plethora of functional size to build a jumbo team? Considering the new lottery rules, Memphis has all the talent and incentive to make a dash for the playoffs this year; give them a healthy Zach Edey, and they might just do it.
Now that we know these two teams a bit better, who will take home the win?
Jazz vs. Grizzlies Pick, Best Bet
This matchup is all about the frontcourts, but both will be shorthanded on Wednesday. Jusuf Nurkic is out for Utah, while Isaiah Stewart will have to wait to make his Memphis debut. That means more minutes for Kyle Filipowski and Quinten Post, while the battle between the starters holds even more weight.
I don’t like how this matchup shakes out for Memphis. Boozer immediately having to account for Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the perimeter in his first NBA game is asking for trouble. That will also put Edey in space, harming one of Memphis’ biggest advantages. They also lack a defensive answer for Utah’s barrage of perimeter scorers. Memphis’ defense will be on the back foot all night, and the Jazz will walk away with an opening-night win.
