Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers Game Preview

Who: Indiana Pacers (26-20, 6th in the East) vs Memphis Grizzlies (18-27, 13th in the West)

When: Sunday, January 27th, 2:30 P.M. CST

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

How To Watch: Bally Sports Southeast

Injury Report: 

Memphis: Desmond Bane (Out, Ankle), Ja Morant (Out, Shoulder), Steven Adams (Out, Knee), Brandon Clarke (Out, Achilles), Luke Kennard (Out, Knee), Jake LaRavia (Out, Ankle), Derrick Rose (Out, Hamstring), Marcus Smart (Out, Finger)

Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton (Questionable, Hamstring)

Whose night is it?

Despite all of their injuries, the Grizzlies somehow enter this contest on a three-game win streak. The most injured team in the NBA this season, the Grizzlies have managed to stay alive with contributions from guys taking advantage of their opportunities. At 18-27, the Grizzlies are only 4.5 games out of the Play-In, which seemed improbable after Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart’s injuries. 

The Grizzlies have battled with their season from hell and refuse to give in to their misfortune. Memphis is 6-4 in its last 10 and 8-5 in January. Houston and Golden State, two of the teams they will have to jump in the standings to make the Play-In, are trending down, leaving the door open for Memphis to make a run. It could have been easy to roll over and tank for a high draft pick but these guys do not quit.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is getting his chance to really shine as Memphis’s clear number-one option on offense but it has been the guys outsiders did not see coming that have kept the Grizzlies afloat. Vince Williams Jr. is making waves as a do-it-all guy who can defend the opposing team’s best wing and knockdown big shots in crunch time. Only 19, GG Jackson has burst onto the scene and given Memphis much-needed offense. 

In the Grizzlies’ last three games, they have had someone step up when they needed it the most. Whether it is VW, Ziaire Williams, Luke Kennard, David Roddy, or Jackson – you name it, Memphis has relied – and will continue to – on big nights from their role players. They will need that tonight. Kennard is out which means the Grizzlies will trot out another new starting lineup against the Pacers. 

The Pacers are 28th in opponent points per game. Indiana’s offense may be lethal but their defense has cost them on several occasions; they are bottom five in defensive efficiency. It may be another big night for JJJ – he will certainly get the volume – but for Memphis to win, someone else will have to have a big game. So who will it be today? 

My money is on VW Jr. The second-year player has gone from the G-League to a two-way player to a certified piece of Memphis’s future. He is the ideal wing to pair with Morant and Bane and offers the defense, rebounding, and shooting to perfectly complement a healthy Grizzlies team. He has scored in double digits in his last seven games and shoots the ball with incredible efficiency. What Williams has shown during this recent stretch has cemented him as a “dude.” 29 teams would kill to have him on their team and he is the type of player that can take a team on the borderline of contention to a championship. That is what Memphis is counting on next season.  

Grit and Grind

During the Grizzlies’ win streak, they are allowing only 100.7 points per game, second in the NBA over the last three games. In this stretch, opposing teams are shooting 43.8% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc, second and third in the league respectively. They are averaging seven blocks and 9.3 steals per game, fourth and second in each category. 

This is the way. This is how Memphis won for nearly a decade. Grit, grind, hustle and pure heart. The Grizzlies play rough defense, they get to the ball and they make the game difficult for their opponent. It is not pretty. We would all certainly prefer to watch Morant’s spectacular finishes and Bane’s stepback threes, but we take what we can get, and right now we are in a time machine back to 2013. 

Toronto, Miami and Orlando are not elite offenses and they looked uncomfortable against the Grizzlies. Their offense could not get into rhythm and Memphis took away what they looked to do. Memphis has to keep this up to beat Indiana, a team ranked number one in points per game that just added former NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam. 

Memphis will not have the shooting to keep up with the Pacers, especially if Haliburton is back. They can, however, continue to grit, grind, and hustle, which has been all they have needed in the past three games. 

Prediction: Indiana 110, Memphis 103

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Brandon Dill