Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz Struggling Through a Historically Bad Season

When the NBA season tipped off, the Utah Jazz were widely viewed as one of the weakest teams in the league—not just in the Western Conference, but across the entire NBA. So far, they’ve lived down to those low expectations. Currently sitting at the bottom of the West, only the Washington Wizards have fewer wins. Barring a miraculous turnaround, this will likely go down as the worst season in franchise history. Their current record of just 16 wins in 71 games is far worse than their previous low of 23 wins, set in their inaugural NBA season.

Last year, the Jazz managed 31 victories, and there was hope that their young core would take a step forward this season. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened—at least not to the extent they had hoped. Beyond their dismal present, Utah’s long-term outlook is equally concerning. They rank among the bottom three teams in the NBA in terms of future prospects, with the draft being their primary (and nearly only) path to acquiring talent.

Memphis Grizzlies Slipping in the Standings

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies, who spent much of the season in the West’s top four, have hit a rough patch. Four losses in their last five games have dropped them to fifth place, and with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers just two wins behind, they risk falling even further. That would be a disappointing turn for a team that looked like a lock for home-court advantage earlier in the year.

Making matters worse, the Grizzlies face a tough remaining schedule, meaning they’ll have to battle directly against playoff rivals to hold their spot. Even if they make the postseason, it’s hard to see them as favorites in any first-round series. Their struggles against winning teams (only a 35% win rate against opponents above .500) highlight their biggest weakness: a lack of reliable scoring outside of Desmond Bane. While Bane is an excellent player, he can’t carry the offense alone—Memphis needs another backcourt threat if they hope to compete at a higher level.

The Utah Jazz (16-56) will face off against the Memphis Grizzlies (43-28) at the Delta Center on Monday in a Western Conference showdown. While the Jazz sit at the bottom of the standings, the Grizzlies hold the fourth spot.

Utah comes into this matchup following a heavy 129-91 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Their struggles in transition defense were evident, as they were outscored 22-9 in fast-break points.

This defeat marks their second consecutive loss after briefly snapping a ten-game losing streak with a 128-112 home victory over the Wizards. While they have performed slightly better on their home court this season, their overall 9-28 record in the last 37 games doesn’t offer much optimism. Additionally, they have dropped six of their last seven contests.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of a five-game road stretch, still searching for their first win on this trip. They have now suffered three straight road losses, following a brief two-game winning streak.

In their most recent outing, Memphis fell 128-108 to the Los Angeles Clippers. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team with 23 points, while Luke Kennard and Scotty Pippen Jr. each added 15.

The Grizzlies have struggled in their last five games, posting a 1-4 record. This inconsistent stretch comes after a solid four-game winning streak earlier in the season.