2026-10-21 · 7:00 PM CT · Regular season
Utah Jazz22-60
Memphis Grizzlies25-57ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
Utah Jazz2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 117.6 | 9 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 43.8 | 16 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 29.6 | 2 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 15.0 | 28 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 8.9 | 8 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 3.8 | 30 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.7% | 17 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 34.5% | 25 / 30 |
| FT% | 78.6% | 13 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 53.6% | 20 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 12.8% | 25 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.277 | 10 / 30 |
Memphis Grizzlies2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 114.7 | 20 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 42.1 | 23 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 27.8 | 10 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 14.6 | 24 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 8.8 | 10 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 4.8 | 16 / 30 |
| FG% | 45.6% | 27 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 35.3% | 22 / 30 |
| FT% | 79.3% | 9 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 53.3% | 24 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 12.7% | 22 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.251 | 21 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies enter with scoring averages of 117.6 and 114.7. Start with the kinds of shots they get, not just how many points they score. A clean shot at the rim or an open three can matter more than another difficult jumper.
The shooting comparison is 53.6% eFG for Utah Jazz and 53.3% for Memphis Grizzlies. That measure counts the extra value of a made three. If the defense takes away the first good look, watch whether the offense can create another without rushing.
Ball security is the next pressure point. Utah Jazz turn it over on an estimated 12.8% of plays; Memphis Grizzlies are at 12.7%. Fewer wasted trips mean more chances to score and fewer easy chances going the other way.
After the shot, watch the rebound. Then watch which team earns free throws. Extra shots and trips to the line can keep an offense moving when the shooting cools. The season columns give the baseline; the game columns in our final breakdown will show which advantages actually held up.
Spreads and win probabilities are reserved for confirmed games within the next seven days. This game stays on the schedule; its forecast opens inside that window.
Last season 22-60 | 15th in the West | Missed postseason
2025-26 efficiency 112.7 offense | 120.8 defense | -8.2 net per 100 possessions
Utah finished last in the West at 22-60, with a defense allowing 120.8 points per 100 possessions. Opponents took 45.1 percent of their shots from three, and 59 percent of those attempts were wide open. The Jazz need a substantial defensive improvement before their growing offensive talent can translate into a dependable winning team.
Darryn Peterson joins Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson arrived at the previous trade deadline but played only three games for Utah, so a healthy full season materially changes the baseline. The front office extended George and added Josh Green and Josh Okogie. Walker Kessler went to the Lakers, with Jusuf Nurkic and Jaxson Hayes among the remaining center options.
The roster's clearest unresolved issue is protecting the perimeter and the paint together. Jackson can cover mistakes, but trading Kessler removes a natural rim-protection partner. Nurkic's size and passing are useful without supplying the same defensive mobility. Peterson may be ready to score early, but a rookie guard cannot be credited with solving every creation and defensive problem before his first game.
Projected finish is seventh in the West. This is our largest improvement call, supported by a much stronger available core rather than an ordinary growth adjustment to a 22-win team. We see a Play-In contender with a credible offensive ceiling. Reaching the direct-playoff group would require defensive improvement that we have not yet priced into the forecast.
Last season 25-57 | 13th in the West | Missed postseason
2025-26 efficiency 112.4 offense | 118.4 defense | -6.0 net per 100 possessions
Memphis finished 13th at 25-57 with a minus-6.0 net rating. Its old core had already begun to dissolve when Jaren Jackson Jr. moved to Utah during the season. Ja Morant's summer trade to Portland makes the change of direction unmistakable. The next successful Grizzlies team will need to establish its own strengths.
Zach Kleiman drafted Cameron Boozer and added Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post among the roster changes. Boozer provides the potential centerpiece, with Cedric Coward coming off an encouraging rookie season. Stewart supplies toughness and frontcourt support. Zach Edey's availability is important because his size can give the young lineup a concrete advantage rather than only future promise.
The concern is how the frontcourt functions together and who consistently starts the offense. A collection of big players can rebound well without defending effectively in space. Ty Jerome's productive scoring came in a small sample last season, so it should not be treated as established full-season starter production. Kleiman has made the timeline clearer, but the young players still need dependable guard play and a more stable defensive structure.
Projected finish is 13th in the West. Boozer's skill and the frontcourt additions should keep Memphis from being an automatic win for opponents. We remain cautious about an immediate Play-In leap after a 27th-ranked defense. The productive version of this season would identify sustainable combinations and give Boozer a team to grow within, rather than asking a rookie to become the entire operating system.
A matching published game video is not available in the verified archive yet.
