The Memphis Grizzlies will take the NBA's sixth remaining strength of schedule into Cleveland tonight to face off against the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. This game marks their first matchup of the regular season. Cleveland has a three-game winning streak against Memphis dating back to February 2023.
Previously only available exclusively through regional broadcasts and NBA League Pass, the NBA announced this Grizzlies at Cavaliers game will be televised by ESPN with the game time changed from 6:30 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST on February 13th. The Cavaliers enter this contest with the NBA's best record at 46-10 while the Grizzlies enter tied with the New York Knicks for the NBA's fourth-best record.
Cleveland is favored with a 5.5 line and 54% chance on ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor. The total over/under is set at 248.5 for the NBA's leading points per game leaders. Currently, Memphis and Cleveland are tied atop the NBA with 122.8 points per game.
Injury Report
The Memphis Grizzlies are entering tonight's matchup with their second game in the last three with a clean injury report. The Cleveland Cavaliers have two starters listed as Questionable on their injury report. Point guard Darius Garland is nursing a left hip contusion and center Jarrett Allen is nursing a right index finger sprain.
Matchup to Watch For:
Jaren Jackson Jr. vs Evan Mobley
The unfortunate shutdown of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama opened the door for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley to duel it out for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award. Wembanyama was the runaway favorite for the award that now has Jackson Jr. favored with +125 odds followed closely by Evan Mobley with +130 odds.
Both of these players are no strangers to competing for this award as Jaren Jackson Jr. beat out the second place Brook Lopez and third place Evan Mobley during the 2022 - 2023 season. Jackson Jr. is the only player this season who has played at least 50 games and is averaging 20+ points per game, 1.0+ steals per game, and 1.5+ blocks per game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has posted a 63.6 defensive rating and 63.5 net rating in the Grizzlies' 7-1 stretch in clutch games and has forced opponents to shoot 6.8 percent worse with him as the primary defender. Evan Mobley is having a career year himself so expect a matchup of the titans to provide great entertainment value as he tries to overtake Jackson Jr. for the Defensive Player of the Year award.