Predicting the outcome of every Memphis Grizzlies game in 2026

The 2026-27 schedule has arrived, and the Memphis Grizzlies are preparing to start a new era led by Cam Boozer, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, Isaiah Stewart, and Scotty Pippen Jr. Below is a prediction of how the team might fare in their first 33 games of the season, which is every game until the end of the calendar year. These predictions do not include knockout round games if the Grizzlies qualify or additional regular season games that will be played during the same time frame (December 4th - 11th).

On opening night, the Grizzlies are set to square off against the Utah Jazz. Jaren Jackson Jr. will make his return to the FedExForum floor after last year’s homecoming, where he unfortunately was not able to play. The home crowd energy powers Memphis to a win, as the team gets ready for a lengthy road trip. First on the list is Golden State, who the Grizzlies saw in the Summer League Championship Game, but Memphis is not able to secure a win in hostile territory.

They do, however, get a victory in Sacramento, despite having to play on back-to-back days. Utah gets early-season revenge on their home floor, carried by Darryn Peterson and Jaren Jackson Jr., but Memphis caps off the road trip with a win against Morant’s new squad in Portland.

Round two against the Kings (this time in Memphis) goes in the Grizzlies’ favor once again, followed by a division victory over the Pelicans. Tyrese Haliburton is back and hands Memphis its first home loss of the season, and the Grizzlies have a disappointing start to NBA Cup play as the Oklahoma City Thunder prevail on the road.

A quick trip to Canada ends with a win at Scotiabank Arena, although the Grizzlies can’t find a way to beat the Nuggets when they get home. Memphis gets a much-needed NBA Cup victory against the Pelicans, and a back-to-back win versus Brooklyn, and keeps the streak going in Washington, D.C. Off to Cleveland they go, but things don’t go their way. The next game against Golden State doesn’t fare much better, as the jet-lagged Grizzlies have to play yet another back-to-back. They do, however, redeem themselves with road victories over the Timberwolves and Hornets.

Despite a decent showing in the NBA Cup last season, this year’s matchups are proving to be much more challenging, as Memphis loses to the LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team finds itself sinking toward the bottom of the Western Conference Group B standings.

Eager for a comeback, the Grizzlies show out in a competitive matchup with the Lakers at home but can’t get it done in Philadelphia’s sold-out arena. Isaiah Stewart helps take care of business against his former team in Detroit, and the Grizzlies go home to face the Bucks and Warriors. They win both but go on to lose consecutive games to the Heat and Rockets.

In an exciting matchup with the Suns, the Grizzlies come out on top and proceed to win two more games versus the Pelicans and Raptors. Memphis takes one more trip to the West Coast before the New Year, where they lose to the Clippers but pull off a thrilling victory against the Lakers. Although, back home, the Spurs are the ones who end the year on a strong note, capping off 2026 with a win at FedExForum.

So, it can be predicted that the Grizzlies will go 19-14 in their first 33 games of the season. This is a brand new team that will need to learn how to play together, create a strong dynamic, and ultimately find ways to win as a unit. Coming off a strong Summer League performance, it is promising for Memphis fans, but nobody has seen what the entire group is capable of just yet.

With Zach Edey back on the roster, Jaylen Wells, Isaiah Stewart, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jerami Grant, Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, and GG Jackson playing alongside the rookie class, this team has the potential of being a surprising force if they can all gel together, keep injuries to a minimum, and play Memphis basketball every single day.

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