Brooklyn won't have Michael Porter Jr., but will this mean a Nets win over a Ja Morant-less Grizzlies?
The Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies face a unique situation: Both teams won't have their leading scorer or longtime face of the franchise for this game.
Still, despite Michael Porter Jr. and Ja Morant not being active, there will still be some star power on the floor inside the FedEx Forum for this Sunday contest.
The YES Network once again will air the action as the flagship network for the Nets. NBA League Pass is one more outlet option -- with premium ($114.99) offering no commercials and more in-arena access.
Multiple FanDuel Sports channels are carrying the game too -- Midwest, South, Southeast and Southwest. Fans in Memphis will earn that treat.
Now here's Fernie Ruano with today's betting preview:
Who needs a Sunday-filled of NFL playoffs, when even Elvis probably couldn’t imagine the kind of drama and/or tanking that the road underdog Brooklyn Nets (11-24) and Memphis Grizzlies (16-22) could very well deliver this afternoon inside the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Nets (+7.5, -115), the 13th seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, just two games ahead of the Washington Wizards and five ahead of Indiana Pacers, are +215 on the moneyline for their first of a three-game road trip that will also take them to Dallas (Jan.12) and New Orleans (Jan . 14) this week.
Brooklyn, 1-4 in their last five games, which includes coming off a 121-105 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, has lost five of six overall and put to rest, apparently, what had been a strong finish to 2025.
The Nets, 6-9 on the road this season, are 3-2 in their last five games away from Barclays Center.
Memphis, coming off a disheartening, 117-116 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in which they led by 21 points - at one point- before getting outscored 14-2 in the final 3:19 of regulation, is a 7.5-point home favorite and -265 on the moneyline, as per DraftKings Sportsbook.
The over/under is 220.5 (o -108, u -112) for the 3:30 p.m. (ET) tip.
Brooklyn, after a promising 7-4 December, which even had plenty of their fans in the borough talking about a play-in spot, are once again threatening to fall out of sight in the Eastern Conference despite the emergence of Michael Porter Jr.
Porter Jr., a core player for the Nets and one drawing a lot of attention as the NBA trade deadline draws closer, despite his most recent showing, leads the Nets with 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in a season that has elevated his on-court status to budding star.
However, Porter Jr., out vs. the Grizzlies due to load management, went cold vs. the Clippers on Friday night, two nights after hitting eight threes in a 104-103 loss to the Orlando Magic.
Guard Egor Demin, who recently returned from lower back soreness, is averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, in addition to 0.3 blocks.
His presence alone gives a Nets offense averaging just 109.5 points a game a chance to stay organized and competitive in games down the stretch — given they shoot well.
Nic Claxton, averaging 13.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, is shooting 58.4% from the floor (10th in the NBA).
Memphis, 3-7 in their last 10 games and 8-11 at home, are now dealing with the possibility of watching Ja Morant play elsewhere, with reports surfacing in recent days that the Grizzlies are seriously shopping around the two-time NBA All-Star - so, he could be gone before or at around the early-February trade deadline.
Morant, who has missed 20 games this season due to injury, in addition to a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the Grizzlies, is uncertain vs. the Nets because of a lingering calf injury that has sidelined him for the last four games.
Memphis is 1-6 in its last seven games.
Yes Network provides all the Nets’ live TV coverage.
Nice to see Jordi Fernandez have Porter Jr.’s back after a poor shooting performance — 0-for-9 from beyond the arc — against the Clippers but a majority of those shots were taken outside of the confines of the game.
It also overshadowed another solid effort from Denim (a team-high 19 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds ) since his return.
With Demin in the lineup, the Nets look organized.
Only problem:
The Nets, not only the youngest team in the NBA but one with plenty of deficiencies, including on defense and underneath the rim, struggle night in and night out to put complete games together.
And to make matters worse, are currently headed in the wrong direction.
That’s why, I don’t trust them.
Even against the drama-filled Grizzlies.