What’s up with the Memphis Grizzlies?
The Memphis Grizzlies were stunned in their previous game, losing at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-109. The loss was their first of the month, cutting short their seven-game winning streak.
Despite the surprising setback, the Grizzlies are still coming into this matchup as the best team in the West. They’re at the top of the standings because of their effective defense. Their interior defense is solid with guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams on rim patrol and they also force 14.4 turnovers per game.
The Grizzlies also aren’t just winning games because of their star player Ja Morant stuffing the stat sheet. They also have guys like Dillon Brooks stepping up. Brooks, in the loss to OKC, scored 32 points on 10-of-24 shooting.
What’s up with the Denver Nuggets?
The Denver Nuggets were enjoying a three-game winning streak with victories over the Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Wizards. But they just couldn’t keep the ball rolling when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, 126-108.
Fortunately, the Nuggets were able to bounce back into the win column right away, beating the Charlotte Hornets two days later behind an incredible performance by Nikola Jokic. He had a historic line, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players in NBA history to have a triple-double with 40+ points, 27+ rebounds, and 10+ assists.
Aside from the big man, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray have been carrying some of the offensive load for the Nuggets.
Prediction
Both teams are having a great season as the top two leaders of the Western Conference, but I have the Nuggets as the favorites in this game.
The home court is going to be a factor - Denver rarely loses at home, with only three defeats out of 12 home games. Other than that, Jokic is in very good shape on the offensive front. He has hit the 40-point mark in two of his last three games.
Where to watch
You can catch the Grizzlies-Nuggets game tomorrow live at 11:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines, available on Smart LiveStream and Cignal TV.
