Game Preview
The Memphis Grizzlies (8-6) enter Wednesday's matchup riding a modest one-game win streak, though their recent form has been far more impressive. Over their last 10 games, the Grizzlies have won 6 while averaging 119.5 points on nearly 49% shooting from the field. Their three-point stroke has been a shade below average at 33.5%, but they've made up for it by hitting just over 81% of their free throws.
Memphis' offensive potency has been fueled by a balanced attack, with 48.1 rebounds and 28.8 assists per contest during this stretch. They've also tightened up defensively, holding opponents under 108 points while swatting away 7.6 shots per game. Turnovers remain an area for improvement at 16.3 per outing, but the Grizzlies are playing with a level of poise and cohesion that could make them a tough out.
In contrast, the visiting Philadelphia 76ers (2-11) have stumbled out of the gates, losers of four straight and just 1-9 in their last 10. Offense has been hard to come by, with the 76ers averaging a mere 100.9 points over that span on a pedestrian 43.4% shooting clip. Their outside touch has been underwhelming at 32% from deep, while free throw shooting hovers around 79%.
Philadelphia's struggles extend to the glass, where they've been outrebounded 38.5 to 40.2 over their previous five games. Distributing the ball has been a relative bright spot with 22.4 assists, but turnovers (13.3) and a lack of rim protection (3.4 blocks) have plagued their defensive efforts. With the 76ers struggling to find their rhythm on both ends, they'll need to reverse some alarming trends to pull off an upset in Memphis.