Basketball in the South used to be simple. You had the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans fighting for the soul of the I-10/I-40 corridor. It was Grit and Grind versus the Bayou. Fast forward to January 2026, and honestly? The vibe is just weird. We’re looking at a matchup between two franchises that were supposed to be the "next big thing" in the Western Conference, but instead, they’re both currently treading water in ways that are kinda depressing for the fanbases involved.
Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans: The Clash of the Glass Stars
The biggest story whenever these two teams meet isn’t the X’s and O’s. It’s the injury report. It’s basically a CVS receipt at this point. Heading into their January 23rd showdown at FedExForum, the list of names in street clothes is longer than the active roster. We’ve got Ja Morant dealing with a right calf contusion. Across the hall, Zion Williamson is working his way back from yet another hamstring issue.
It’s the tragedy of modern NBA basketball. You pay for a ticket to see the two most explosive athletes of the 2019 Draft class, and you end up watching a battle of the benches.
Last October, we actually got a glimpse of what this rivalry could be. Opening night was a banger. Morant dropped 35, Zion had 27, and Memphis escaped with a 128-122 win. That game felt like a promise. But since then? The Pelicans have cratered. They’re sitting at the bottom of the West with a 10-34 record. Memphis isn't exactly elite either, hovering around the 10th seed at 17-23.
Why the Pelicans Are in Free Fall
Let’s be real about New Orleans. The "Zion and BI" era is effectively over, and the transition hasn't been pretty. After firing Willie Green, the team has looked lost.
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The Jordan Poole experiment has been... well, it's been Jordan Poole. Some nights he looks like a Steph Curry clone; most nights he’s shooting the Pelicans out of the building. The bright spot? Rookie Derik Queen. The big man has been a monster on the boards, often out-hustling veterans twice his age. But when your leading scorer is a revolving door of "who’s healthy today," you aren't winning many games in the Western Conference.
The Pelicans’ defense is currently ranked 28th in the league. They’re giving up 122 points a night. That’s not a basketball strategy; that’s an invitation to a layup line.
The Memphis Pivot: Life After Desmond Bane
If you haven't been following closely, the Grizzlies made a move that shocked a lot of people over the summer: trading Desmond Bane to Orlando. It was a "reload" move, an admission that the current core wasn't going to jump over the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs anytime soon.
Memphis is a different team now. They’re younger, more chaotic, and heavily reliant on Zach Edey to anchor the paint. Edey has been better than the haters expected, averaging a double-double and nearly two blocks a game before his recent ankle tweak.
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- The Ja Factor: When Morant plays, Memphis is a playoff team. When he’s out, they look like a lottery team.
- The Rookie Rise: Cedric Coward, the 11th pick, has shown some serious flashes of being a high-level 3-and-D wing.
- The Standings: Memphis is currently fighting for the final Play-In spot, likely battling the Clippers and Blazers for the right to get bounced in the first round.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
People still talk about this as a "rivalry." It isn't. Not right now. A rivalry requires both teams to be competitive at the same time. Right now, this is a game of survival.
The Pelicans are essentially playing for the #1 pick in the 2026 Draft. They’ve already moved Dejounte Murray to the "out indefinitely" list, and there are whispers that Zion might not even finish the season in a Pelicans jersey if a desperate contender calls before the trade deadline.
Memphis, on the other hand, is trying to find a new identity. They moved on from the "old" core (Bane, Brooks, Adams) and are trying to build something more sustainable around Jaren Jackson Jr. and Morant. But the "Grit and Grind" DNA is mostly gone, replaced by a high-variance offense that lives and dies by the three-ball.
The Statistical Reality
If you look at the advanced stats, the Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans matchup is a battle of inefficiency.
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Memphis ranks near the bottom of the league in True Shooting percentage (57.0%), mostly because their shot selection is, frankly, questionable. They take a lot of "hero ball" shots late in the shot clock. New Orleans is even worse, sitting at 28th in effective field goal percentage.
The Path Forward for Both Franchises
For the Pelicans, the next step is simple but painful: total transparency. They need to decide if Zion is the cornerstone or a trade chip. You can't keep building around a guy who plays 25 games a year. It’s unfair to the fans and exhausting for the coaching staff.
For Memphis, it’s about health and chemistry. They have the talent to be a 50-win team again. Jaren Jackson Jr. is still one of the best defensive players on the planet. But until they find a way to keep Morant on the floor for 70+ games, they are destined to be a "what if" story.
Keep an eye on the January 23rd game. If Ja and Zion both suit up, it’ll be a highlight-reel frenzy. If not? You’re better off watching the highlights on YouTube.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season:
- Monitor the Injury Report: Check 90 minutes before tip-off. In this rivalry, the "Questionable" tag is the most important stat.
- Watch the Rookie Minutes: Derik Queen (NOP) and Cedric Coward (MEM) are the future of these franchises. Their development is more important than the final score right now.
- Betting Tip: These teams tend to play high-scoring, sloppy games. Look for the "Over" on turnovers and total points if the stars are out.
- Trade Deadline: Expect New Orleans to be active sellers. Brandon Ingram and Zion rumors will dominate the headlines through February.