The Boston Celtics will travel to the FedExForum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Action begins at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday, Jan. 10 and can be seen on CNE and FxS.
The Grizzlies enter this game hoping for similar success after topping the Nuggets 91-84 on Friday. Zach Randolph was the team’s leading scorer with 24 points on 9-for-19 shooting. The Celtics, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 101-92 loss against the Bulls on Thursday. Jae Crowder led the team in scoring with 17 points.
The Grizzlies might struggle to find the bottom of the net as they face off against one of the league’s best defenses. The Celtics rank second in the NBA in defensive efficiency, while Memphis ranks 27th in offensive efficiency. Furthermore, the defense of the Celtics should have an advantage in terms of effective field goal percentage. They’re fourth in the league in forcing misses (opponents’ effective field goal percentage of 47.1%), while the offense of the Grizzlies ranks 29th in effective field goal percentage (46.4%).
Notes
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Celtics are 18-3 on the season. When the Grizzlies score fewer than 100, they are a losing 8-17.
The Boston Celtics have an abysmal 1-14 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Memphis Grizzlies are 12-1 when they hit the century mark.
The Celtics have an offensive rating of 101.1 (ranked 26th), while the Grizzlies rank 16th for their defensive rating of 102.8.
Memphis has an average field goal percentage of 43.0%. Boston is an underachieving 3-13 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
Memphis attempts an average of 17.0 three pointers per game, and Boston attempts 27.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Grizzlies are winless at 0-1 while the Celtics have a 12-14 record.
The Memphis Grizzlies, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.67, rank seventh in the NBA. The Boston Celtics have a lower A/TO (1.65), ranking ninth.
Memphis ranks 27th in rebounds per game with 41.3, while Boston ranks ninth with 44.8 per game.
The Boston Celtics are the fifth-ranked team in offensive rebounds, while the Memphis Grizzlies are the 28th-ranked team in defensive rebounds.
Though Boston is one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TOV% of 16.1% (ranked third), Memphis has a solid 5-3 record SU when it has a TOV% of 16.1% or greater.
