The Memphis Grizzlies have a real shot to build early momentum in the 2026-27 NBA season, with a schedule that presents several winnable games in their first ten. Their immediate focus is on the Utah Jazz at home tonight, October 21, following a preseason where they showed offensive firepower. The Grizzlies closed their exhibition slate with a convincing 116-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on October 16, finishing with a 3-1 preseason record that included wins over Chicago and Atlanta.
Memphis displayed a potent offense throughout their four exhibition games. That 116-98 win against Charlotte was a balanced effort, but the 132-123 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks on October 5 really highlighted their scoring depth. Even their lone loss, a 122-118 result to the Orlando Magic on October 7, was a high-scoring affair. This offensive rhythm, established without the pressure of regular season standings, gives the team a foundation to build upon.
The first ten games offer a mix of challenges and opportunities. Memphis faces the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz twice each, providing four key matchups against teams they will need to outperform in the Western Conference race. Beating the teams you're supposed to beat is a basic NBA principle, and those games are vital. But the schedule isn't all soft. Road trips to face the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, plus a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, will test the Grizzlies' mettle right away. Stealing a win in one of those tougher contests could be the difference between a good start and a great one.
A 6-4 record through ten games is a solid and achievable goal for this group. It hinges on taking care of business in those four games against Sacramento and Utah. If they can go 3-1 or even 4-0 in that subset, it provides a cushion for the inevitable losses against elite competition. The defensive core, led by a healthy Zach Edey protecting the paint, should be ahead of many offenses that are still finding their chemistry early in the year. Combine that with the continued development of the team's young stars and what appears to be improved roster depth, and the pieces are there. The main question isn't about talent, but about how quickly this group can gel under game pressure.
All the preseason work and schedule analysis leads to one moment: the regular season tip-off. The journey begins in earnest tonight at home against the Utah Jazz. It's the first of those key winnable matchups and a chance to immediately set a tone in front of the home crowd. A victory would validate the optimism from the preseason and provide a perfect launchpad for the challenging ten-game stretch ahead. The Grizzlies' ability to translate their preseason offensive efficiency and defensive identity into real wins starts now.
