Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Quinten Post were all ruled out Oct. 31 and had their status upgraded Nov. 1, with Nov. 2 as the listed return date. Memphis is 6-0 and hosts a 2-4 Pelicans team.
Who could be back against New Orleans?
Jerome, Pippen and Post were all ruled out for the Kings game, then moved up a tier Sunday. Jerome and Pippen have back issues, and Post has a right ankle issue. Each is listed with a Nov. 2 return date. A listed date is not a clearance, and none of the three has been confirmed to play.
Should fans count on all three?
Not yet. By our count, five of the seven players on this club who were newly listed this season missed the next game. The league rate is 58%. Jerome and Pippen were both listed, cleared or ruled out within days, so the back issues have already flipped more than once. Wait for the pregame report.
What does Jerome's absence cost?
Plenty. He is averaging 25.8 points in 29.9 minutes over five games, tops on the team. By our count he sits 90 points shy of 2,500 for his career, about four games away at that pace, a projection and nothing more. Memphis beat Sacramento by 31 without him, so the cushion is real.
What does New Orleans bring to Beale Street?
A team on a two-game winning streak, 2-4 overall, with a net rating of 1.7. Zion Williamson is scoring 20.7 a night over six games. Dejounte Murray is listed day-to-day for a personal matter, Jordan Poole has an ankle issue, and Yves Missi is out. Memphis should be heavy favorites, though a short Pelicans rotation can still be physical.
Is 6-0 as good as it looks?
The numbers say yes. Over six games the Grizzlies carry a net rating of 14.7, with a defensive rating of 104.1. Against Sacramento the bench scored 68 of the 136 points. The Daily Memphian's Chris Herrington called it a franchise-record-tying win. Six games is still a small sample, and the Thunder arrive Nov. 6.
Will Ty Jerome play against the Pelicans?
He is listed with a Nov. 2 return date after being ruled out Oct. 31, but he has not been confirmed to play. The pregame injury report will settle it.
What is the Grizzlies' record this season?
Memphis is 6-0 and first in the West, with a six-game winning streak. The next game is Nov. 2 against the Pelicans.
