The Memphis Grizzlies visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night in a matchup between two of the NBA's last three unbeaten teams. The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET and marks the first meeting since the Grizzlies traded guard Ja Morant to Portland in a summer deal that sent forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis.
Portland enters as a 7.5-point home favorite with an over/under of 232.5 points. The Blazers have opened the season 3-0 for only the second time in 15 seasons, highlighted by a 136-129 win over the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. They lead the league in scoring at 129.3 points per game, made field goals (45.7 per game), and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.24).
Morant, 27, has averaged 16.3 points on 58.8% shooting with 6.3 assists since joining Portland. Fellow guard Damian Lillard, 36, has added 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game after missing last season due to injury. Forward Deni Avdija has contributed 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. The Blazers also feature backups Jrue Holiday and Scott Henderson.
Memphis, meanwhile, has started 4-0 for only the second time in franchise history (the 2014-15 team began 6-0). The Grizzlies are in a rebuild after trading Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. (to Utah). Guard Ty Jerome has led the early surge, averaging 29.8 points per game — far above his career 9.7 average — and leads the NBA in second-half (19.0) and fourth-quarter (10.0) scoring among players with at least three games played. Jerome is the early favorite for Most Improved Player at +600 odds.
Rookie Cameron Boozer, second-year Cedric Coward, and third-year center Zach Edey form the core of Memphis' future. The Grizzlies have led at halftime in all four games and have outshot opponents from three-point range (39.1% to 32.4%). However, their opponents have a combined record well under .500, and Memphis benefited from injuries to Utah's Jackson and Lauri Markkanen in a 110-105 win on Monday.
Portland has won three of the last four meetings and the past three at home in the series. The Grizzlies are finishing a four-game road trip and have not swept a trip of four or more games since November 2013. A projection model favors the Blazers 117-111.
Blazers coach Micah Nori, hired on a contract with only the first season guaranteed, is among early Coach of the Year favorites at +1500. Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo is at +1400.
