Game Preview: Memphis Grizzlies at Brooklyn Nets (3/4/2024)

Mired in a 5 game losing streak, the Memphis Grizzlies travel to Brooklyn on Monday night to take on the Nets. The Nets, responsible for one of the 5 previous losses, come in riding a 2 game winning streak the the Grizz will look to end at 6:30 pm on Monday. Memphis is 29-25 all time against Brooklyn, averaging 100.6 points per game and have won their last 3 games at the Barclays Center. Brooklyn previously defeated Memphis at the FedEx Forum on 2/26/2024 111-86. Brooklyn enters the game as an 8.5 home favorite and -360 on the money line. Memphis, who hasn’t won a game since before the All-Star break, is looking to right the ship after some rough seas. Memphis has not lost in the Barclays Center since 3/19/2018, a 118-115 loss. Memphis who has only scored 100+ in 2 of their last 5 games, averages 100.6 at Brooklyn in franchise history.

Who: Memphis Grizzlies (20-41, 13th in the West) at Brooklyn Nets (24-36, 11th in the East)

When: Monday, March 4th, 6:30 P.M. CST

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn NY

How To Watch: Bally Sports Southeast

Injury Report:

Memphis: Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. day to day (quad), Desmond Bane out (ankle), Brandon Clarke out (achilles), Scotty Pippen, Jr.: out (back), Ja Morant out for season (shoulder), Marcus Smart out (finger), Derrick Rose day to day (back).

Brooklyn: Dariq Whitehead out for season (shin), Ben Simmons day to day (leg), Cam Thomas day to day (ankle).

Keys To a Memphis Victory

Feed GG

GG Jackson Jr., whether in a starting role or off the bench, will need to provide an offensive spark shoulder Jaren be out tonight with his quad soreness. GG has averaged 16.4 points on the road this year but is due for a break out game. GG has been going through some growing pains of late, as expected from a 19 year old, and has not scored 20+ since the Milwaukee game that sent us into the All-Star break. Granted, that probably sounds a little spoiled considering GG is the youngest player in the association, but the talent is there for a breakout game any night. GG will need to get hot in order to propel Memphis to a road victory.

Vince Play the Role of a Batman Villian

Mikal Bridges is a walking bucket and is averaging 21.4 points per game this year. However, Vince Williams Jr. doesn’t care about your superstar and needs to mirror Bridges all night. Vince, aka BoogieMane has to step up defensively as Memphis has been giving up an average of 110.3 points per game in their last 10. The last time Memphis held a team under 100 points was in a 96-87 loss to New Orleans back on February 12th. Vince is known for wrecking a superstar’s night and will need his A game to slow down Mikal, who dropped 38 on Atlanta on March 2nd. The Grizzlies can absolutely win this game at Brooklyn, but it will take Vince stopping an onslaught from Bridges.

Stay Hot Ziaire

Don’t look now, but Ziaire Williams has been playing good basketball for the Grizzlies. Now for Ziaire, anything resembling serviceable basketball is good. However, over his last 4 games he is averaging 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shooting 46% from the floor. For most NBA players, those are pedestrian numbers for sure but we have all watched Ziaire struggle to adjust this year. His growth has not been what we expected from a draft pick we traded up to get, but we are not even a month removed from a 27 point outburst against Milwaukee. Ziaire needs to continue playing basketball at a high level if the Grizzlies want to secure the road victory. I think Ziaire will find his shot again tonight and be a key role player for the Grizzlies.

Bonus: Manage Expectations as a Fan

As fans, this game can still be a win for us without the Grizzlies actually winning the game. I can hear the groans already, so hear me out. I hate moral victories. They are dumb, pointless, and do not feel good. Losses wear on me more than most as I am hyper competitive. Memphis has been anything but competitive recently. It is kind of obvious that there is a concerted effort to manage the load and victory is not necessarily the end goal. I won’t call it a tank but it has not looked like a competitive effort in any regards when you lose to a, at the time, 15 win Portland team. Again, the Nets are beatable and it will be very much like the Grizzlies to run the Nets out of the Barclays center. However, at this point in the season it is all about lottery position. Memphis currently sits in 6th place in the NBA draft lottery odds, conveniently behind the afore mentioned Portland Trailblazers. A loss to Brooklyn inches them towards better odds for a top draft pick this summer. On the otherside, a win at the Barclays Center provides confidence for future bench/role players for the Grizzlies. I am going to out on a limb and predict a victory Memphis, because why not? Memphis can absolutely win this game. Memphis can win a lot of games coming up and that will only boost confidence for this young core. Run time for the likes of GG, Vince, and Lamar will only serve to make Memphis better off the bench next year. So keep your morale victory, I predict…

Game Prediction

Memphis 110 Brooklyn 101