What to expect in the Grizzlies' preseason finale vs. the Miami Heat

Coming off of back-to-back road wins against eastern conference opponents, the Grizzlies return home to complete their preseason against another east foe. At 3-1 in the preseason, the Grizzlies will finish the preseason undefeated on the road and have a chance to avoid being winless at home, with their only loss coming at home to the Charlotte Hornets last Thursday.

Rookie center Zach Edey is coming off his best preseason performance as he scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. His post-presence was exciting to see on an NBA level as the Indiana Pacers had no answer for stopping him on the block. He also had that performance coming off the bench.

Ja Morant and Marcus Smart will return for the preseason finale, but Jaren Jackson Jr. and Luke Kennard will not. Luke Kennard is dealing with foot soreness after the Grizzlies' last preseason game and Jaren Jackson Jr. is still nursing the low-grade hamstring strain that has kept him out the entire preseason.

When and how to watch Grizzlies vs. Heat

The Grizzlies and Heat will tip off at 7:00 PM CST on October 17. The game will be televised on NBA League Pass and the Bally Sports network. The Bally Sports network for this game includes Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, and Bally Sports Southwest. Blackout restrictions may apply for NBA League Pass subscribers if Bally Sports is available in their area.

What to watch for in Grizzlies vs. Heat

The connection between Ja Morant and Zach Edey will be the most important development in the Grizzlies preseason finale. The star point guard and rookie big man worked out together this summer and had a lob connection in the Grizzlies' first preseason game at Dallas before Morant left with a minor ankle injury.

Zach Edey will likely be the starter and will need to learn how to play with the starters as his best and last preseason game was coming off the bench. His usage will be lower as a starter because of the star power of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. (all top 100 NBA players).

On the reverse side, the other starters will need to learn how to better utilize him and they understand the importance of that after inconsistencies with that in the team's first two preseason games. Chemistry will take time to develop, especially with Jaren Jackson Jr. not expected to return until opening night, so expect a conscience effort from Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart to get more comfortable with Zach Edey.