Memphis fired Taylor Jenkins for supposedly losing the locker room and having tactical disagreements with the front office on the offense. Also, it was said that Jenkins did not connect with Morant. What a difference a NBA betting year makes. Specifically, what a difference a player makes. Ja Morant was able to play in enough games this season to get the Memphis Grizzlies into the play-in round. Last year, his absence cost the Grizzlies a postseason bid. However, the Grizzlies limped into the postseason after having to make a coaching change.
2025 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK |
| TV Coverage: | TNT |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies | +14 -105 | 229 -110 | +675 |  |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -14 -115 | 229 -110 | -1050 | |
| ||||
Memphis Grizzlies Series Schedule
- Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder | Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD *
Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach
Head coach Taylor Jenkins was an NBA assistant for several offshore betting seasons before taking over the Grizzlies in 2019. Jenkins has a career record of 250-214 with three playoff appearances. Last year, he faced the biggest challenge of his coaching career without his two top players. Memphis gave him a mulligan and expected a rebound in the season ahead. Instead, Jenkins was fired with nine games remaining in the season. Tuomas Iasalo is the interim HC.
Memphis Grizzlies Key Players
In 2023-24, PF Jaren Jackson Jr. averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Previously, the Grizzlies selected Jackson as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Michigan State. He is a two-time NBA All-Star, including this year, and was the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. This year, Jackson averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
PG Ja Morant was averaging 25.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game before his injury last year. In turn, this season, Morant is averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. Morant was the 2nd overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State by the Grizzlies. He is a 2-time NBA All-Star.
SG Desmond Bane averaged 23.7 points and 5.5 assists per game last season in only 42 games. Thus, Memphis is without its two most productive players. This year, Bane is averaging 19.2 points per contest.
Memphis Grizzlies Record, Metrics & History
In sum, Memphis’s NBA metrics were 4th for scoring offense, 8th for field goal percentage, 13th for 3-point field goal percentage, 12th for free throw percentage, and 2nd for offensive rebounding. While on defense, Memphis was 22nd for scoring defense, 4th for field goal percentage permitted, 15th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 9th for defensive rebounding.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ final regular-season record was 48-34 straight up, 41-40-1 against the spread, and 45-35 over/under the NBA betting total. As a result, Memphis was 8th in the Western Conference playoff standings, 20 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Memphis is in a position to challenge for supremacy in the Western Conference once again with a new collection of young, talented players highlighted by Ja Morant. The Grizzlies went 56-26 during the 2021-22 season. Thus, they showed that they weren’t scared of the five-time champion Golden State Warriors.