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The Boston Celtics will take on the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum in Memphis tonight. This matchup presents a fascinating contrast, with the Celtics aiming for another NBA Championship and the Grizzlies working to break free from a recent slump. In this preview, we’ll break down each team’s season and what to expect in the game.
The Celtics have been a dominant presence in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-2025 season. They lead the Atlantic Division and hold the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Their success is fueled by a potent offense and a strong defense.
The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has been crucial to their achievements. At 26 years old, Tatum continues to post impressive scoring performances, while Brown, 28, contributes significantly on both ends of the floor with scoring and defense. Together, they’ve been central to the Celtics’ pursuit of back-to-back titles after winning the NBA Championship in 2024. The depth of the team, featuring players like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, has also helped solidify their championship aspirations once again.
The Grizzlies’ season has been a rollercoaster ride, with some notable highs and lows. With a 44-29 record, they sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. However, their journey this season has been complicated by internal struggles, including the recent firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in franchise history. Despite his accomplishments, team president Zach Kleiman decided a change was necessary, and assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo has taken over as interim head coach.
On the court, Memphis has battled inconsistency, particularly in their recent performance, where they’ve lost five of their last seven games. The absence of star point guard Ja Morant for several games due to injury has certainly added to their challenges, although he has returned to the lineup. With Morant sidelined, other players have stepped up, notably Jaren Jackson Jr., who averages more than 22 points per game. Additionally, Memphis has seen encouraging performances from young big men Santi Aldama and rookie Zach Edey.
Despite the turbulence, the Grizzlies remain competitive, ranking among the top-six teams in offensive rating and the top-12 in defensive efficiency. With new leadership at the helm, it will be intriguing to see how Memphis navigates the rest of the season.
The Celtics vs. Grizzlies matchup presents an interesting clash of styles and team narratives. Boston is looking to maintain its dominant form as it heads toward the playoffs, while Memphis is attempting to stabilize under new leadership. Both teams have significant talent, but Boston’s depth, consistency and experience should give them the edge in this matchup.
With that said, our Celtics @ Grizzlies pick leans toward the Celtics and Jayson Tatum. Tatum has scored 30+ points in over 60% of games this season and has been especially dominant against teams who play at a faster pace, which the Grizzlies do (1st in pace in the NBA). This bodes well for Tatum, who thrives in high-paced games and can take over when needed.
With the Celtics focused on maintaining momentum for their playoff push, this game will be a crucial test, and Tatum’s scoring will likely play a pivotal role in securing the win. The Grizzlies, while talented, will need to overcome their recent struggles and find a way to stop Tatum if they hope to keep this game competitive. So our Celtics @ Grizzlies pick is on Jayson Tatum scoring more than 29 points.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.