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The Memphis Grizzlies are riding a four-game winning streak and have been one of the league's hottest teams, sporting an impressive 12-7 record on the season. Their high-powered offense is averaging 121 points per game, fueled by a blistering 48.8 percent shooting from the field. The Grizzlies have been even more potent over their last 10 games, pouring in nearly 124 points per contest while locking down defensively and holding opponents to just 110.7 points on average.
Conversely, the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled mightily, limping into this matchup with a dismal 4-15 record and a six-game losing skid. Their anemic offense is scoring just over 103 points per game, hampered by a pedestrian 43.7 percent field goal percentage. The Pelicans' woes have been amplified during their recent 1-9 slide, where they've mustered a mere 98.3 points per game while surrendering a whopping 113.1 points on the defensive end.
The stark contrast between these teams is further highlighted by their performances over the last five games. The surging Grizzlies have gone 4-1, averaging 124.6 points on a scorching 49.9 percent shooting clip while flexing their defensive muscle by holding opponents under 115 points per game. Meanwhile, the reeling Pelicans are winless in their last five, scoring just 100.4 points per contest on a paltry 43.4 percent shooting while hemorrhaging 121 points on the other end.
With the Grizzlies firing on all cylinders and the Pelicans languishing through a prolonged slump, this matchup appears lopsided on paper. Memphis has been humming along at a nearly 70 percent win rate over their last 10 games, while New Orleans is scraping by at a dismal 10 percent clip during that same stretch. Unless the Pelicans can somehow recapture their offensive rhythm and shore up their leaky defense, it's hard to envision them slowing down the red-hot Grizzlies.