Grizzlies Face Hornets Amid Injury Concerns, High-Scoring Showdown Expected

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies (28-15) will host the Charlotte Hornets (11-28) on Wednesday, January 22, at 8:00 PM ET at FedExForum, with both teams dealing with key injuries ahead of the matchup. The Grizzlies have five players listed on the injury report, while the Hornets have three.

Memphis is coming off a narrow 108-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, led by Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Hornets secured a 110-105 win against the Dallas Mavericks, with Miles Bridges leading the charge with 23 points.

The Grizzlies, who lead the NBA in scoring with 123.1 points per game, are heavy favorites, with a 12-point spread in their favor. Charlotte, however, is riding a season-best three-game win streak, averaging 117.3 points during that stretch, a significant improvement from their season average of 107.1.

“Memphis can fill the bucket with the best of them, while Charlotte has stepped up its offensive production of late,” said Eric Rosales, a betting analyst. “Look for points aplenty in this matchup.”

Injury concerns loom large for both teams. The Grizzlies will be without Marcus Smart (finger), Vince Williams Jr. (ankle), and Cam Spencer (thumb), while Jake LaRavia (back) and Luke Kennard (ankle) are listed as questionable. For the Hornets, Grant Williams (ACL) is out for the season, and Brandon Miller (wrist) and Tre Mann (back) are sidelined.

This will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Memphis has won seven of the last 10 matchups, often in dominant fashion, with five of those victories coming by at least 13 points. However, Charlotte has won the last two encounters, though the Grizzlies were missing key players in those games.

Betting odds favor the Grizzlies, with the total points line set at 240.5. The Over has hit in five straight meetings between the teams and in eight of the last 10, suggesting a high-scoring affair is likely.

Fans can catch the game on Fubo, a streaming service offering live sports and on-demand content. For those interested in betting, FanDuel Fantasy and BetMGM are offering promotions, though availability varies by state.