Grizzlies Clawing for Victory at the Pelicans' Nest
As the Memphis Grizzlies prepare to swoop into the Smoothie King Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation for their December 26th showdown against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Grizzlies, who have been struggling to find consistent form this season, are coming off a nail-biting victory over the Atlanta Hawks on December 24th. Despite their 9-19 record, that game showcased what Memphis is capable of when firing on all cylinders.
The Grizzlies' performance against Atlanta was a testament to their resilience and offensive firepower. Scoring an impressive 125 points with a remarkable third-quarter surge where they racked up 40 points, they demonstrated an ability to overturn deficits and maintain composure under pressure. Their scoring was well-rounded; contributions came from across the roster with bench players chipping in significantly.
Defensively, there's room for improvement as evidenced by allowing 119 points against Atlanta. However, Memphis showed glimpses of defensive prowess with seven blocks and six steals during that game. This defensive intensity will need to be dialed up when facing a Pelicans team that has shown they can put up big numbers.
Speaking of New Orleans, it's worth noting that in their last encounter with MEM on December 20th at Smoothie King Center itself, NOP edged out narrowly in a high-scoring affair where both teams surpassed the century mark but ultimately fell short by two points. The Pelicans had led for most of that game and even boasted a significant lead at one point but were unable to stave off Memphis' late-game heroics.
The upcoming contest promises another close battle if recent history is any indication. The key for MEM will be containing NOP's offense while exploiting any defensive lapses from their opponents. With both teams having similar field goal percentages around the low fifties in recent games but MEM showing slightly better efficiency from beyond the arc at 46 percent compared to NOP's last outing three-point percentage of just 44 percent could prove pivotal.
For fans looking forward to this matchup between two teams eager to climb up their respective conference ladders, mark your calendars for December 26th at 7:00 PM CT when these two franchises collide once again in New Orleans. Those cheering on from afar can catch all the action live on BSSE channel number 649 or follow along as local supporters do on BSNO channel number 676-4.