Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers NBA picks: Can Portland prevail in battle of unbeatens, Ja Morant payback game? — SkimNews
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- Portland Trail Blazers opened the season 3-0, averaging 129.3 points per game — the NBA's highest — behind the backcourt duo of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, plus Deni Avdija's all-around production.
- Ja Morant returned to face the Memphis Grizzlies for the first time since his offseason trade, averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 assists on 58.8% shooting as a willing team player in Portland.
- Ty Jerome has emerged as the Grizzlies' leading scorer with 29.8 points per game, earning Western Conference Player of the Week honors and drawing trade interest despite not being part of Memphis' long-term rebuild.
- Memphis Grizzlies started 4-0 despite trading away key players, with journeyman Ty Jerome leading a surprising surge supported by strong three-point shooting and favorable opponent injury breaks.
- Tom Condon became the new Blazers owner and drew fan backlash for cost-cutting moves, including letting playoff coach Tiago Splitter leave and hiring Micah Nori on a contract with team-held options for future seasons.
- Micah Nori was hired as Portland’s head coach on a deal with only the first year guaranteed, yet is now among early Coach of the Year favorites at +1500 after the team's 3-0 start.
Why it matters: Portland’s 3-0 start and Memphis’ 4-0 surge reflect unexpected competitiveness in a rebuilding West, with real betting market action — 86% of money backing Portland at -7.5 — and rising individual stakes for Jerome, Morant, and Nori amid organizational uncertainty in both cities.
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