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Memphis Grizzlies (4-8) at Boston Celtics (5-7)
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #13, Home Game #6
TV: NBCSB, FDSN, NBA-LP
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, ESPN 92.9 FM
TD Garden
Possible Starting Matchups Point Guard 
vs
Derrick White vs Ja Morant
Shooting Guard 
vs
Payton Pritchard vs Jaylen Wells
Small Forward 
vs
Jaylen Brown vs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Power Forward 
vs
Josh Minott vs Jaren Jackson, Jr
Center 
vs
Neemias Queta vs Jock Landale
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons
Chris Boucher
Xavier Tillman
Jordan Walsh
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Baylon Scheierman
Sam Hauser
2-Way PlayersRon Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Grizzlies Reserves Santi Aldama
Cedric Coward
GG Jackson, Jr.
John Konchar
Cam Spencer
Vince Williams, Jr
Two-Way Players PJ Hall
Olivier Maxence-Prosper
Javon Small
Injures/Out Brandon Clarke (knee) out
Ty Jerome (calf) out
Scotty Pippen, Jr (toe) out
Zach Edey (ankle) questionable
Javon Small (toe) questionable
Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo
Game Notes The Celtics host the Memphis Grizzlies for the first of 2 games between them this season. They will play again in Memphis on March 30. The Celtics and Grizzlies tied the series 1-1 last season. They are 38-20 overall all time against the Grizzlies and they are 19-10 all time in games played in Boston. The Celtics won 121-103 in Memphis in the preseason.
This is the second of back to back games for both teams. Both teams lost the first game on Tuesday. The Celtics lost 102-100 in Philadelphia while the Grizzlies lost 133-120 in New York on Tuesday night. Both teams are 1-1 on the second night of back to back games.
The Griizzlies made a big trade this offseason when they sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 4 unprotected first round picks. They bought out Anthony and they are starting Caldwell-Pope. They also signed Ty Jerome and Jock Landale as free agents. They traded Jay Huff to Indiana for 2 second round picks. Luke Kennard left Memphis for Atlanta as a free agent.
After this game at home against Memphis, the Celtics will have 3 days off before hosting the LA Clippers on Sunday. Then it is one game on the road at Brooklyn before playing Brooklyn, Orlando, and Detroit at home. The home game against Brooklyn will also be an Emerates NBA Cup game. They then play at Minnesota and at Cleveland before one game at home vs New York. Then, they play at Washington, at home against the Lakers and at Toronto before a break for the NBA Cup games.
This is the 2nd game of a 4 game road trip for Memphis. They started the trip at New York on Tuesday and will play at Cleveland and at San Antonio before playing Sacramento at home. They one game at Dallas and one game at home before a 4 game road trip through New Orleans, LA Clippers, Sacramento, and San Antonio. Then they host the Clippers and Portland before the break for the NBA Cup.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum remains out as he rehabs his torn Achilles. For the Grizzlies, Brandon Clarke is out after having a prodedure to address knee synovitis. Ty Jerome is out with with a high-grade calf strain. Scotty Pippen, Jr is out after a procedure to address a left big toe injury. Javon Small missed the last 2 games and is questionable for this game with a toe injury. Zach Edey is questionable as he works to come back from off season ankle surgery.
Key Matchups vs
Derrick White vs Ja Morant
Morant is averaging 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. He is shooting 35.8% from the field and 14.8% from beyond the arc. There has been talk of problems between Morant and Memphis' coach and that Morant has been giving less than 100% effort in recent games. Be that as it may, the Celtics should be ready for Morant because when he actually tries, he is a problem.
vs
Josh Minott vs Jaren Jackson, Jr
Jackson is averaging 17 po8ints, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He is averaging 51.5% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to stay with him both inside and on the perimeter. He is also a very good defender and will try to make it hard for the Celtics to score.
Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Jock Landale
Landale is averaging 10.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He is shooting 57.7% from the field and 51.7% from beyond the arc. He is shooting well from distance and so the Celtics can't slack off of him on the perimeter.
Keys to the GameDefense - As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game. The Celtics were second in the preseason with a defensive rating of 100.2. They have slipped to 13th with a defensive rating of 113.8. The Grizzlies are 18th with a defensive rating of 115.4. The Celtics must play tough lock down defense in this game if they want to beat the Grizzlies.
Rebound - Rebounding may be the biggest key to winning right now since the Celtics have struggled on the boards this season so far. The Celtics are 1-5 in games that they are out-rebounded in. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than their opponents. Much of rebounding is effort and every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Effort and Pace - I've already mentioned that the Celtics need to put out more effort on the boards but they have to play with more effort overall for all 4 quarters. In their 5 wins, the Celtics played harder and with more energy than their opponents. That has to be their identity this season. They have to play harder on defense and they have to rebound harder. They also need to play faster and run in order to get easier shots before the defense sets up. The Celtics are 29th with a pace of 97.00. The Grizzlies are 9th with a pace of 102.92
Offensive Execution - The Celtics are 27th in the league, shooting just 32.7% from beyond the arc. It's not just one Celtic who is struggling to hit their 3's, it is almost everyone on the team. Pritchard and Simons appear to be breaking out of their slumps and White hit a big 3 at the end of Sunday's game. But, if they struggle early in the game, they need to score in the midrange or in the paint and not continue to brick 3's the entire game.
X-Factors Home Game and Fatigue - The Celtics are home after a 3 game road trip. They need to get motivation from the crowd and play their best to protect home court. The Grizzlies have to overcome the distractions of playing on the road including travel fatigue, staying in hotels, playing in front of hostile fans and in an unfamiliar arena and the Celtics need to take advantage of that. Both teams are playing on the second night of back to back games and both teams had to travel after Tuesday's game. Fatigue could be a factor down the stretch.
Officiating - Officiating can always be an x-factor. Some officials call the game tight and call every little bit of contact. Others let them play and allow both teams to be physical. Some refs call it one sided for one team while others call it even. The Celtics have to concentrate on playing their game and not allow bad calls and no calls to take away from their focus on playing the right way.
Topic: Grizzlies (4-8) at Celtics (5-7) Game #13 11/12/25 (Read 200 times)