Memphis has cleared every test on the scoreboard and at the betting window through six games. New Orleans arrives with a smaller but timely turnaround: two straight wins after an 0–4 start. Monday’s meeting at FedExForum asks whether the Grizzlies can keep creating separation against a Pelicans team that has finally found some traction.
Six wins, six covers—and a different challenge
Memphis is a 6.5-point favorite in the DraftKings lines. The Grizzlies’ six-game start includes a 6–0 record both outright and against the spread, so their fast start has meant more than simply collecting wins. They’ve covered in every game, including Saturday’s 136–105 victory over Sacramento as a 7.5-point favorite.
The Pelicans’ 2–4 record tells a less encouraging story than their 4–2 mark against the spread. That distinction matters here: New Orleans has competed more successfully against the number than its win-loss record suggests. Its latest two games produced wins over Sacramento and Atlanta, with the latter coming by 22 points.
Memphis has earned its strong early reputation, while New Orleans brings recent evidence of improvement. The Pelicans’ recovery makes this a different challenge from their 0–4 start, even with the Grizzlies continuing to clear each spread put in front of them.
What carried the latest wins
Memphis got production from several places in its win over Sacramento. Cameron Boozer scored 27 points, Isaiah Stewart supplied 24 and GG Jackson added 21 while making all five of his three-point attempts. That distribution is worth watching against New Orleans: another balanced scoring night would give the Pelicans several problems to solve, although Jackson’s perfect perimeter shooting is a demanding standard to repeat.
New Orleans also got contributions beyond its most familiar scorers in a 121–99 win over Atlanta. Saddiq Bey scored 25 off the bench and Jeremiah Fears added 20 against Atlanta, while Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each had 15. Atlanta made only eight of 46 three-point attempts. The Pelicans can take encouragement from the result without assuming the next opponent will shoot that poorly.
Our rebound projections put New Orleans at roughly 44 and Memphis at 40. That gives the Pelicans another way to compete alongside their scoring. How those rebounds are divided matters: defensive boards could help them finish stops and keep Memphis from stretching a run.
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The total needs its own reading
The listed total is 234.5. Memphis has gone Under in four of six games this season, while New Orleans has gone Over in four of six. Even their latest wins split that way: the Grizzlies’ game finished Over the line recorded for that game, while the Pelicans’ game stayed Under.
At 234.5, Memphis’ scoring depth and New Orleans’ 132- and 121-point performances in its two wins give the total an offensive case. There’s a counterweight beyond Atlanta’s cold shooting: Memphis has held every opponent to 112 points or fewer through six games. Whether the Pelicans can carry their recent scoring onto the road matters more to this total than the size of either team’s latest winning margin.
The injury picture also matters before tipoff. Jordan Poole is out with an ankle injury, and Murphy is probable with a knee issue. For Memphis, Scotty Pippen Jr. is doubtful with a back injury and Quinten Post is questionable with an ankle injury. All four designations come from reports issued Sunday for this game.
Memphis’ strongest case is the combination of scoring depth and a six-game record of keeping opponents in check. New Orleans’ two wins and four covers show why its overall record alone undersells the challenge. The Pelicans need their improved scoring to travel, with work on the glass offering another way to stay competitive; another opponent’s cold shooting night would be a much shakier foundation.
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