NBA Game of the Week: Nuggets vs. Grizzlies
The top two teams in the Western Conference will face off against each other for the second time this season as the Denver Nuggets travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.
In the first matchup, the Nuggets came out on top 105-91 behind Nikola Jokić’s triple-double performance, with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists.
On the losing side, Ja Morant had 35 points and 10 assists, but the Grizzlies were missing Desmond Bane due to a toe injury at the time.
Now, Bane is healthy and back as the team’s second scoring option with 21.6 points per game.
For Saturday night’s game, the Grizzlies will likely be without Steven Adams, who has been out the last few weeks with a knee injury.
Before the Adams injury, Memphis had a 31-15 record, but since then has gone 4-8.
His presence on the glass is glaring as Adams was fifth in the league with 11.5 total rebounds per game and first in offensive rebounds with 5.1 per game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. does an elite job of locking down the paint with a league-leading 3.3 blocks per game, but he lacks the big presence on the boards that Adams possesses.
For Denver, Aaron Gordon is listed as questionable with a rib injury.
He was crucial in the last game against Memphis, leading the Nuggets with 26 points.
His absence is notable, but the team should still function well with Jokić continuing what he’s been doing all season.
The two-time reigning MVP is on track to win the MVP award again this season as this may be the best year he’s had.
He is averaging a triple-double with 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists a game, a feat that has only been done by two other players in NBA history, Russell Westbrook doing it four times and Oscar Robertson achieving it once.
He is a great scorer, but it is his passing that makes Jokić one of the best players in the league.
This season saw the return of Jamal Murray for the Nuggets, who missed the previous season and a half with a torn ACL.
It took some time early in the season to get back in the swing of things, but he has been playing like his old self lately, averaging over 20 points per game this season.
This game will likely be important if the Grizzlies want to catch the Nuggets, as they currently trail them by six games in the standings.
The return of Bane to the lineup is crucial for Memphis’ offense, but the Adams injury will be a big loss, especially against Jokić.
The Grizzlies have the advantage of playing at home this time, which is an important factor for this team.
They have a dominant 24-5 record at home but have been a different team on the road with 11 wins and 18 losses.
Denver has a similar problem as their home record is 27-4, much better than their away record of 15-14.
Considering how the Grizzlies have struggled as of late, the Nuggets would be the safer pick as this will likely be a highly entertaining offensive battle.
Prediction: Nuggets 120, Grizzlies 112
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
