Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz

·Mon Oct 26·7:00 PM MT·NBA League Pass,KJZZ-TV,DAZN MEM·Salt Lake City, UT

By JR·2 min read

Grizzlies(2-0)

Jazz(1-2)

Monday 10/267:00 PM

TLDR: Memphis already beat Utah by 20 to open the season, and on Monday, October 26, the Jazz get them in their own building. Before that, the Grizzlies have a stop in Sacramento.

TUE 10/27, TUE OCT 27, 7:00 PM NBA League Pass

KJZZ-TVDAZN MEM

Grizzlies

(2-0)

Jazz

(1-2)

LWL

Memphis beat Utah by 20 in the opener and visits the Delta Center on Monday after a Sunday stop in Sacramento, so both clubs are on the second night of a back-to-back. The main question is whether Zach Edey, rested against the Kings, returns to face a Jazz frontcourt that has no Jusuf Nurkic. Utah has scorers in Markkanen, George and Jackson but has struggled to hold leads after fast starts.

Memphis Grizzlies

Beat Utah by 20 in the opener
Edey expected back after planned Sacramento rest
Closed out Golden State with a 27-18 4th quarter
Second night of a back-to-back, with travel
Coward questionable with a left wrist sprain
Kings game first could tax the rotation

Utah Jazz

Markkanen, George, Jackson all scored 20+ against Lakers
Ace Bailey rebounding well, 12 boards Sunday
Explosive starts, 47-point 1st quarter vs Lakers
Nurkic out at least 4 weeks, thin up front
Gave back an 18-point lead to the Lakers
Also on the back end of a back-to-back

This is a rematch from the season's first week. Memphis beat Utah 123-103 at home in the opener, and since then the Grizzlies have stayed perfect and the Jazz have been up and down. Memphis plays the Kings in Sacramento first, the opening leg of a back-to-back. That game decides whether the Grizzlies arrive in Salt Lake City unbeaten, and how much the rotation has left for the second night.

The big Memphis question is Zach Edey. The Grizzlies ruled him out against Sacramento for left ankle injury management, which reads like a planned rest night on the first half of the back-to-back. Athlon expects him back for the Jazz. Isaiah Stewart was in line to start against the Kings with Quinten Post covering backup minutes, so a fresh Edey on Monday would be a real lift. Cedric Coward is the other one to watch. He's questionable with a left wrist sprain and in danger of missing a second straight game. Memphis already won at Golden State without him, but it's still a starting wing on the report. There's no board posted on this one yet.

Utah gets a quick turnaround of its own. The Jazz lost 132-123 to the Lakers at home on October 25, so this is the back end of a home back-to-back for them too. That loss was Luka Doncic's night: 52 points, 10 assists, 8 threes. Utah still led by 18 in the 1st quarter behind a 47-point opening frame, and Lauri Markkanen (28), Keyonte George (24 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists) and former Grizzly Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) all scored. The 2nd quarter is what sank them. The Lakers won it 45-24.

Size inside is the matchup to watch. Utah is without Jusuf Nurkic for at least 4 weeks with a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot. That leaves a frontcourt built on Markkanen, Jackson and Ace Bailey, who pulled down 12 rebounds against the Lakers. If Edey is back, a 7-footer is a problem that group hasn't had to deal with much this season. The Jazz are also missing guard Trey Alexander, who's out with a left knee bone bruise.

Utah needs more out of rookie Darryn Peterson. He went 4-of-13 with no threes against the Lakers but had 3 steals. The Jazz also need to hold their level after a fast start. Memphis has won by blowing a team out and by grinding one out, coming back from 90-84 down to beat the Warriors with a 27-18 4th quarter. Tipoff is 7:00 PM MT at the Delta Center.

Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz

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