There was considerable anticipation surrounding opening night. After three long and grueling months of waiting for Memphis Grizzlies basketball to start again, the fans were ready. However, the excitement and hype around the 2025-26 season did not come without a little bit of anxiety; the injuries, the preseason struggles, a questionable 3rd man, and all the changes that have happened over the course of the last several months have, without a doubt, made some fans very uneasy about what’s to come.
The Grizzlies had their regular-season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans on opening night. Despite going 1-4 in the preseason, there were a lot of highlights from those five games that gave fans hope. Young players like Javon Small and others got valuable minutes and made an instant impact. Seasoned veterans like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and others got to know their new teammates and made their presence felt on the court.
The Pelicans came into this game with a revamped roster. After a season they’d probably rather forget, New Orleans reloaded and got healthier. The question in the offseason was how threatening the Pelicans would be this year, as they indeed have the talent and depth to compete at a very high level.
Grizzlies pull off a comeback victory
Memphis won the game by a final score of 128-122. After trailing 24-9 midway through the 1st quarter, the Grizzlies found some rhythm and cut the New Orleans lead to three by the end of the quarter. Memphis was able to remain within striking distance throughout the 2nd quarter, but it could not seem to gain enough momentum to take the lead.
The tides started to turn in Memphis’ favor during the 3rd quarter after the seven-minute mark. The Grizzlies went on a 19-0 run and grabbed their first lead of the game with 5:38 to go in the quarter. Up by eight to start the 4th, Memphis tried to maintain control of the game, despite the Pelicans’ best effort to keep it close.
The two teams traded baskets for a while, and both of them played aggressive defense, but Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had some big moments late in the game that helped lead their team to a victory.
They won as one
Overall, this was a solid team win. Though not perfect, the Grizzlies stayed composed and found a way to finish strong in the clutch.
A true team effort is when Ja Morant has 35 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. has eight rebounds and six blocks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shoots 100% on nine free throw attempts, Olivier-Maxence Prosper contributes 10 points off the bench in 15 minutes of game play, and Cedric Coward racks up 14 points in his regular-season rookie debut, without missing a single shot. This is why Memphis is starting the season 1-0.
This is the kind of effort that can keep the Grizzlies competitive while they wait for several players to get healthy. Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke, Zach Edey, and Ty Jerome did not play last night, yet Memphis showed a lot of resilience and roster depth.
It’s a great way to start the year, but that was just one game. There is an entire season ahead of this Grizzlies team, and the world has yet to see how everything is going to play out. With upcoming matchups against the Heat, Pacers, Warriors, Suns, and Lakers, Memphis will have to rely on its depth once again and continue to foster a strong chemistry with the pieces they have available right now.