The Grizzlies and Pacers meet Wednesday night in Memphis with very different early-season vibes, even if the matchup itself is still just the first of two between them in 2026-2027.
Memphis enters at 6-1 and looking to steady itself after a wild 135-134 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Indiana, meanwhile, is 2-6 and dealing with a rough start that has been defined more by injuries than by anything happening on the floor.
Tipoff is set for Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m. CST at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. The game will air on DAZN, WATN ABC24 in Memphis and CBS4 Indianapolis, with radio coverage on 92.9 FM and 680 AM in Memphis and 93.5 FM and 107.5 FM in Indiana.
This is the first meeting of the season between the teams, and Memphis won the series 2-0 last year. The Grizzlies are 26-34 all-time against Indiana in the regular season, including 18-13 at home and 8-21 on the road.
For Memphis, this season has a different feel after the departures of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies have shifted into a younger build around No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, 2024 No. 9 pick Zach Edey, 2025 No. 11 pick Cedric Coward and 2024 No. 39 pick Jaylen Wells, with veteran guard Ty Jerome handling the lead role.
Jerome said the loss to New Orleans pointed to a few clear issues.
"I think just the possession game. We got to rebound the basketball, trim down some turnovers.
They got 10 more shots than us, we lose by a possession so I think that's where we start immediately. Just came out sluggish in the first half on the boards, in the gaps, transition defense a little bit."
He also made it clear Memphis can’t afford to get comfortable after its strong start.
"The minute we start to think like 'We won a few, we can relax a little bit', we're not going to beat anybody doing that."
Indiana was expected to bring back a stronger group with Tyrese Haliburton returning from a torn achilles and Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre stepping in for Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin, but the Pacers have instead opened the year in rough shape health-wise.
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Memphis has opened the season looking every bit like a team that expects to stay near the top of the Western Conference, and a visit from Indiana offers another chance to keep that momentum rolling. The Grizzlies are 6-1 and have already shown they can win with balance, with Ty Jerome giving them a steady offensive lift while the rest of the roster keeps finding ways to pressure opponents on both ends.
Indiana arrives on a three-game road trip carrying a five-game skid, and the matchup brings a few layers beyond the standings. One of the bigger questions is in the middle, where the Pacers are watching Ivica Zubac after his ankle sprain, and his availability could shape how they try to handle Memphis inside. The game also sets up appealing individual battles, including Cameron Boozer against Pascal Siakam, but for the Grizzlies the bigger concern is simply avoiding the kind of slip that can let a struggling opponent find life. [Read more 🡒]
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Early in the 2026-27 season, the leagues MVP conversation has already started to take shape around the usual heavy hitters, with Luka Doni, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey and Stephen Curry all drawing attention for the way they are carrying their teams. Memphis has its own name in that mix too, and it is not the one most people would have circled before opening night. The early returns have been strong enough to put a Grizzlies guard on the radar in a discussion usually reserved for the sports biggest stars.
For Memphis, the appeal goes beyond surprise value. The Grizzlies have spent the opening stretch trying to establish an identity, and this kind of production gives them a player who can tilt games while the rest of the roster settles in around him. Whether that early burst turns into a real award push is still a long way from being decided, but the fact that he is even in the conversation says plenty about how quickly the story has changed in Memphis. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Fast Start Is About To Face Its First Real Test
Memphis has opened the 2026-27 season looking every bit like a team that belongs near the top of the league, with a net rating that ranks second in the NBA and a roster that has stayed mostly intact through the early stretch. The Grizzlies have benefited from good health and efficient play, and the early results have given them a cushion as they head into a schedule that will start mixing in more demanding opponents after a softer opening run.
The next few weeks will tell a lot about how real this start is, because the Grizzlies cannot count on the same easy shot-making to carry them forever. If the three-point production cools off, they will need other ways to score and keep games under control, all while navigating a growing injury concern in the backcourt that could test their depth sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]