The Memphis Grizzlies return to the NBA's MLK Day schedule on Jan. 18, hosting the Houston Rockets in prime time at FedExForum.
The Memphis Grizzlies are back on the NBA's Martin Luther King Jr. Day schedule.
Memphis will host the Houston Rockets at 6:30 p.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 18, at FedExForum. The game closes an NBC Sports quadrupleheader and will air on Peacock and NBCSN.
The NBA announced the four-game schedule Wednesday afternoon.
Detroit visits Cleveland at 11 a.m. CT in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal series. Philadelphia plays at Atlanta at 1:30 p.m. CT, followed by Minnesota at New York at 4 p.m. CT. NBC and Peacock will carry the first three games.
MLK Day Returns to Memphis
The Grizzlies were not part of the league's MLK Day schedule last season.
Memphis instead played Orlando in Berlin on Jan. 15 and London on Jan. 18. The two games were the franchise's first regular-season appearances outside North America.
In July 2025, Grizzlies president Jason Wexler stated that the international trip offered the franchise an opportunity to showcase Memphis and Tennessee abroad. The team also intended to keep up its community efforts during the holiday period while traveling.
Wexler said at the time that the Grizzlies looked forward to "once again anchoring the NBA's MLK Day schedule in 2027."
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968. The site is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum near FedExForum.
The museum presents its Sports Legacy Award during the Grizzlies' MLK Day game. The Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium is also held before the game.
Memphis returns to the holiday game with a roster that looks considerably different from the one that finished last season.
The Grizzlies went 25-57 and finished 13th in the Western Conference. They lost 21 of their final 23 games.
Ja Morant played 20 games before Memphis shut him down in March. He averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range.
On June 29, Memphis traded Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had already been sent to Utah before the February trade deadline. Desmond Bane was traded to Orlando in June 2025.
Cameron Boozer Leads New Grizzlies Core
Memphis used the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Cameron Boozer.
Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 38 games at Duke. He shot 55.6% from the field, 39.1% from 3-point range, and 78.9% at the free-throw line on his way to consensus national player of the year honors.
His first summer with Memphis ended with a spot on the Summer League First Team.
Boozer averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals. The Grizzlies made it to the Summer League championship but lost to Golden State.
Memphis selected Karim López at No. 21 and Richie Saunders at No. 32, who is recovering from a torn ACL.
The roster changed via free agency and trades; Memphis acquired Isaiah Stewart from Detroit on June 24 and signed Quinten Post in restricted free agency.
Zach Edey is coming back after appearing in 11 games last season. He underwent a second ankle surgery during the offseason and becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension after the 2026-27 season.
Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and GG Jackson also return.
Projected Memphis lineup includes Ty Jerome, Wells, Coward, Boozer, and Edey. Coach Tuomas Iisalo begins his second season.
Rockets Return After Four-Game Sweep
Houston went 52-30 last season, finishing fifth in the Western Conference, but the Lakers beat the Rockets in six games in the first round.
Kevin Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists during his first season in Houston. Fred VanVleet missed the season with a torn ACL.
The Rockets added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović this summer. Houston also signed Tari Eason to a five-year, $81.5 million extension.
Ime Udoka returns as coach.
Houston swept all four games against Memphis last season. The final meeting came April 12 at Toyota Center, where the Rockets won 132-101.
Before the MLK Day game arrives, Memphis will also have its NBA Cup schedule to play.
The Grizzlies are in West Group B with Oklahoma City, Minnesota, the LA Clippers, and New Orleans. Group play runs from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27.
The NBA will release the full 2026-27 schedules for all 30 teams Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
