The New Orleans Pelicans will face the Memphis Grizzlies on February 12 (Monday) at FedExForum. The Grizzlies are on an eight-match losing streak without their key players and will be hoping to break it when they face the Pelicans, who have won five of their last six games. The Pelicans bounced back from their loss to the LA Lakers and made a splash by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
Memphis has seen the losses mount and is suffering from a lack of firepower on both ends of the floor. The Pelicans and the Grizzlies will meet for the third time this season. They have divided the results so far.
Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the teams looking to reach the playoffs this season. The team has been good offensively and their 31-22 record is proof of how dominating they can get. They are playing better on the defense than last season and with dangerous defenders like Valanciunas and Herb Jones, the Pelicans are a tough side to stop on both ends of the floor.
The Grizzlies are having a forgettable season and are out of the playoff race. They will rely heavily on Jaren Jackson Jr. They have struggled defensively and will need to be better on that front if they want to win on Monday.
Starting lineup
Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Ja Morant and Jake LaRavia are listed as out for the Grizzlies. Derrick Rose and Zaire Williams are questionable. Memphis is expected to start with Jacob Gillard, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. For the Pelicans, Dyson Daniels is out. Zion Williamson and Cody Zeller are listed as questionable. They are expected to start with CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas.
Also Read: Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz: Prediction (2024)
Prediction
The Pelicans are favorites to win the upcoming game, even without Williamson. They are currently a better unit in terms of health and two-way play between the two sides. From superior rebounding to sustained offense, New Orleans has the upper hand against the Grizzlies.
