Grizzlies vs Nuggets Preview: New Era Meets Championship Quest

Wednesday night pits a rebuilding Memphis team against Denver's veteran core. The Grizzlies have traded away key pieces and now focus on development and draft picks, while the Nuggets chase a top seed. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey are all out for the rest of the season, so Memphis will give rookies and young guards big minutes. Denver will lean on Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray to control tempo.

Denver still looks like a title team when healthy, because Jokić and Jamal Murray run the offense. Jokić leads the league in impact and scores about 29 points while making plays for teammates. Murray can explode for big scoring nights, so Denver stays dangerous. Memphis lacks its stars this season, so their young players must create offense and avoid turnovers. Tonight will test Memphis' depth and Denver's ability to exploit mismatches on both ends.

Watch how Denver uses Jokić to create open looks, because his passing forces defenses to rotate. Jamal Murray will take big shots, although he can be streaky. Memphis will try to get young guards like Walter Clayton more reps, and those minutes will test their poise under pressure. Expect Denver to pressure the ball and hunt second-chance points. If Memphis limits turnovers and grabs rebounds, they could make the game competitive.