The in-the-hunt teams are breathing down the Memphis Grizzlies’ neck, so every game is now a must-win. Rookie Ja Morant’s mettle is getting tested good too.

The Boston Celtics are already locked in the playoffs, but don’t expect them to give way and gift someone a W. They’re a young and hungry squad, and they’ll be working hard from the 5 AM tipoff.

HOME TEAM: Memphis Grizzlies (33-39)

The Grizzlies have had a rough stretch in the bubble, and they’re obviously experiencing Murphy’s Law because anything that can go wrong is currently going wrong!

They are just 1-5 since the restart while teams who are chasing them have been playing really well, namely the 4-2 Portland Trail Blazers and the surging, 6-0 Phoenix Suns. In the middle of all that, they also lost their rising big man, Jaren Jackson Jr., for the season due to a torn meniscus.

All that, of course, has put much of the workload unto rookie Ja Morant’s shoulders. The likely Rookie of the Year award winner is now under bigger, brighter lights as he tries to keep the team alive. He’s been hot-and-cold in the bubble – though tallying 19 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game, he’s only shooting 39.3% from the floor.

Morant will be mainly backed by Dillon Brooks (19.3 PPG) and Jonas Valanciunas (13.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG), who are both producing decently in the bubble. Second-year guard Grayson Allen (14.7 PPG) is in the mix as well.

Memphis is averaging 112.5 PPG in their last six games.

ROAD TEAM: Boston Celtics (47-23)

The Celtics are coming in having won three in a row through a string of offensive explosions. They are averaging 131 points and 16 threes per game in that span, which includes recording a 28-year-high on single-game points and a 122-100 beating of the defending champion Toronto Raptors.

All that is in spite of Kemba Walker getting limited in minutes due to a knee injury, who averaged just 22.7 minutes in his first three bubble games and will potentially be in only his second game over 27 minutes.

Gordon Hayward (18.3 PPG) has been decent at filling the void, and he’s coming off a 31-point performance. Jayson Tatum (22 PPG) and Jaylen Brown (20 PPG), meanwhile, are also doing their thing in the bubble.

PREDICTIONS:

The Celtics handily won the first match-up last January, 119-95. They collectively shot 50.6% and had six guys in double figures.

I expect a closer fight and a strong game from Morant and company, but I see the Celtics taking this, 110-104.