If recent form, and recent history, are any indication, Friday night’s matchup between the Boston Celtics (46-23) and Memphis Grizzlies (24-44) comes with a fairly clear baseline.

When these two teams last met, it wasn’t particularly competitive.

Boston overwhelmed Memphis in a 131-95 rout back in early November, leading by nearly 40 at one point and controlling every phase of the game - from three-point shooting to rebounding to second-chance opportunities. The Celtics never trailed, hit 21 threes, and dictated the pace from the opening tip, while the Grizzlies struggled to generate anything resembling consistent offense.

It was less a contest and more a blueprint.

And since then, that gap has only widened.

The Celtics enter this one playing some of their best basketball of the season, winners of three straight and increasingly looking like a team settling into its final form ahead of the postseason.

Whether it’s Jaylen Brown’s recent scoring surge, Jayson Tatum’s steady return to rhythm, or Derrick White’s continued two-way impact, Boston has found multiple ways to win - from wire-to-wire blowouts to late-game execution, like their recent closing run against Phoenix (39-31).

There’s a clarity to how they’re playing right now.

Ball movement has been crisp. The defense has tightened when needed. And the depth - a defining trait all season - continues to show up in meaningful ways, whether it’s Payton Pritchard off the bench or role players stepping into bigger moments.

Memphis, meanwhile, is searching for something entirely different.

Injuries and inconsistency have defined their season, and even in their last meeting with Boston, head coach Tuomas Iisalo pointed to effort and organization as issues as much as execution. The Grizzlies have struggled to establish identity, often playing shorthanded and trying to piece

together lineups against more cohesive teams.

That contrast is hard to ignore.

Boston looks like a group gearing up for May and June. Memphis, at this point, is trying to get through March.

Which doesn’t guarantee anything on a given night, but it does frame the challenge ahead.

Because if the Celtics bring the same level they’ve shown over the past week, this matchup could start to feel familiar in a hurry.

Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies Information

Game Date: March 20, 2026
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC Sports Boston (Boston) & FanDuel Sports Network Southwest (Memphis)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston) & 92.9 ESPN (Memphis)
Location: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
Live Stream: Fubo, NBA League Pass

Missed any of Wednesday night’s win over the Warriors? Here’s everything you need to know:

Fresh off a 41-point performance against Phoenix (39-30), Brown wasted no time carrying that momentum into Wednesday night.

He poured in 19 points in the first quarter alone, nearly matching the Warriors’ entire output (23) by himself.

Brown attacked relentlessly inside the arc, slicing through Golden State’s defense and knocking down shots at every level.

By the time the opening quarter ended, the Celtics already had control, and Brown had made it clear this wasn’t going to be a close one.

For all the positives since returning to the lineup, Tatum’s three-point shooting had lagged behind.

That changed Wednesday.

Tatum found his rhythm early, knocking down four of his first six attempts from deep and finishing with a season-high 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds.

It was his third double-double in just six games back, and more importantly, a sign that his offensive game is rounding into form at the right time.

When Tatum is hitting from the outside, Boston’s offense reaches another level.

Payton Pritchard provided another spark off the bench with 19 points and a game-high 7 assists, continuing a strong stretch after some recent inconsistency.

Boston’s ability to get production from multiple spots, whether it’s Pritchard, Derrick White, or others, continues to separate them from teams relying heavily on top-end talent alone.

It’s not just who starts. It’s who finishes, and how many options they have getting there.

All eyes were briefly on Kristaps Porzingis in his return to TD Garden, and he received a warm ovation, especially during a first-quarter tribute video.

But once the game settled in, it was clear this night belonged to Boston.

Porzingis finished with 11 points on 4 of 13 shooting, and while he had his moments, he couldn’t tilt the game in Golden State’s favor.

Having been at the Garden for every major “reunion game” this season, I was underwhelmed by the reception for Porzingis. Between Luke Kornet, Jrue Holiday and the Warriors big man, it was surprisingly Kornet who got the loudest reception from the home crowd.

With the victory, the Celtics maintained their grip on the No. 2 seed in the East, keeping distance between themselves and a surging Knicks team (45-25).

The schedule is about to get tougher, but this stretch has shown exactly what Boston can be:

Explosive, deep, and capable of overwhelming opponents early.

When they play like this, there aren’t many teams built to keep up.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.