The Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers meet for the first time in the 2023-24 NBA season since a testy series in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Will the Grizzlies stun Los Angeles in La La Land and become the first team to hand the Lakers a home loss? Or, will the Lakers prove that they still own Memphis?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 11:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Memphis Grizzlies (2-8/2-3 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Marcus Smart
- Desmond Bane
- Ziaire Williams
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Bismack Biyombo
The 2023-24 NBA season is not turning out to be a memorable one for the Grizzlies, but they might just have turned the corner. After going just 1-8 straight up in their first nine games of the campaign, Memphis became the latest team to punish the new-look Los Angeles Clippers, as they dismantled James Harden and company in a 105-101 road win on Monday. The Grizzlies, winners in two of their last four games, are averaging only 108.6 points per outing this season, as they continue to miss the services of Ja Morant.
However, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been excellent sources of offense for the Grizzlies. Bane is averaging 26.5 points per game, while JJJ is putting up 20.5 points per outing. And while Memphis’ defense hasn’t been stingy in terms of points allowed (114.1 PPG), the Lakers might find themselves having trouble piercing through it this Wednesday. For one, the Grizzlies are No. 1 in the NBA with just 42.0 paint points allowed per game. That combo of Jackson and Bismack Biyombo can be a problem for the Lakers in the paint.
Home: Los Angeles Lakers (5-5/4-0 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- D’Angelo Russell
- Cam Reddish
- LeBron James (Questionable)
- Rui Hachimura
- Anthony Davis (Probable)
Even without LeBron James, the Lakers mustered enough to beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at home, 116-110. Anthony Davis paced the Lakers in that game with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists with three blocks in 41 minutes, while each of the other LA starters had at least 11 points. With that win against the Blazers, the Lakers managed to stay undefeated as a home team this season. They are also 3-1 against the spread in their last four home games against Memphis.
Their chances to make it five in a row in La La Land will look greater if James returns to action after sitting out the Blazers game due to a left calf contusion. But another reason the Lakers are having fun again (2-0 straight up in the last two games) is the ongoing redemption story of Cam Reddish. The former Duke Blue Devils star is averaging only 7.0 points per game this season, but he scored a total of 35 points while shooting 54.5 percent from behind the arc in the last two Lakers contests.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Grizzlies (+5) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (226.5) hits the Over.
