Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies will host the Brooklyn Nets. The Grizzlies have set an unfortunate trend this season, frequently squandering large leads, though their outcomes vary. They recently let a 20-point lead slip against the Chicago Bulls, and in their season opener, they lost a 17-point advantage but still managed to win by two points. Meanwhile, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, the NBA’s first Spanish coach, celebrated his initial victory when the Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks. However, their celebrations were short-lived as the Denver Nuggets handed them a loss soon after, dropping their record to 1-3. Despite this, the Nets showed offensive prowess, especially in the first half, where they built a 17-point lead before ultimately losing it.
Both teams are struggling not only with defensive issues but also with injuries. The Grizzlies’ Ja Morant is listed as questionable due to right thigh soreness, and center Zach Edey has also appeared on the injury report with right calf soreness. The status of both players, along with John Konchar (dealing with posterior tibial tendonitis), remains day-to-day. Morant has been managing thigh discomfort since a recent back-to-back series against the Rockets on October 25. Though he pushed through it during the Grizzlies’ home opener against the Magic, he missed Monday’s close 126-123 loss to the Bulls. Konchar has missed two games straight, while Edey, a 7’4″ rookie, made his first appearance on the injury list.
In Tuesday’s practice, Edey seemed active, participating in shooting drills with Konchar and engaging in an intense rebounding and putback session with assistant coach Anthony Carter. Although his playing time has been limited, averaging 16 minutes over his first four NBA games, coach Taylor Jenkins emphasized that Edey’s fluctuating minutes are part of the team’s strategy for adaptability. Jenkins has been pleased with Edey’s commitment and progress, noting that his professionalism is a positive influence on the team. Edey’s stats so far average at 7.8 points and five rebounds per game, which Jenkins considers promising.
The Nets also face lineup challenges. Ben Simmons will play, but as coach Fernandez mentioned, Simmons will not participate in back-to-back games for now following his March surgery. Starting center Nic Claxton is out due to a hamstring injury, although he managed 26 minutes against the Nuggets. Additionally, Bojan Bogdanovic, Trendon Watford, and Day’Ron Sharpe will all miss tonight’s game due to injuries, just as they did against Denver.
Fernandez hinted that Watford is progressing well and could be back soon, though no exact timeline was given. With defensive struggles and key players missing on both sides, the matchup will be an interesting test of how each team’s offense can capitalize in tonight’s game.
