Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Friday November 13 2026

Memphis travels to New Orleans on Friday for a West Group B NBA Cup game that could be decided by which team survives its frontcourt absences. The Grizzlies are 7-4 and are short road favorites, but they have cooled after their strong opening run. The Pelicans are 4-8 and have several players doubtful, yet the market still sees a close contest. Rather than treating the season records as a complete handicap, the useful question is whether New Orleans can get enough production around Zion Williamson to exploit the Grizzlies’ current size and rotation issues.

Grizzlies vs Pelicans Odds and Line Movement

Friday's NBA Cup matchup tips at 8:00 p.m. ET from Smoothie King Center, New Orleans. The records are Memphis 7-4; New Orleans 4-8. An earlier public sportsbook snapshot listed Grizzlies -2.5 (-105); Pelicans +2.5 (-115); total 237.5 (-112 each way); Grizzlies ML -136 / Pelicans +114. These are book-specific reference prices, and the market can change before tipoff.

The quoted line is Memphis -2.5, New Orleans +2.5 and a 237.5-point total, with the Pelicans +114 on the moneyline. Other books have shown Memphis favored by 3.5 to 4.5 points; those separate quotes are not a uniform line-movement record. The best available comparison is simply that the visitors are favored by a single possession at this particular reference. Murphy's doubtful designation is especially important for New Orleans' spacing, and a lineup change could materially affect the pace.

Memphis Grizzlies: Matchup, Form and Rotation

Memphis has used young, physical contributors to stay competitive. Cameron Boozer and Cedric Coward help create offense around Ty Jerome, while Jaylen Wells supplies wing coverage. Zach Edey is out, and that changes the normal geometry near the rim and on the defensive glass. The Grizzlies are most effective when they turn stops into quick attacks, but a thinner center rotation can force them to give ground in the paint or spend more time switching mismatches. Their recent results have been less convincing, including a November 11 loss to Denver, so they need a dependable defensive response rather than simply another good individual scoring night.

New Orleans Pelicans: Home-Court Matchup and Availability

New Orleans’ injury list is serious. Trey Murphy III, Bennedict Mathurin and Yves Missi have all been listed doubtful, while Trendon Watford is out. That removes scoring and depth, but Williamson remains a strong downhill option, and Dejounte Murray can operate the offense through the middle of the floor. Herb Jones is essential to slowing opposing wings; Jeremiah Fears gives New Orleans another ballhandler and some extra pace. Karlo Matković and other available bigs will have to finish possessions on the glass. The Pelicans cannot expect a single player to replace Murphy’s shooting volume, so they must get purposeful movement from the remaining guards and forwards.

Grizzlies vs Pelicans Matchup Analysis

The matchup is clearest in the paint. Without Edey, Memphis can struggle when a physically powerful forward repeatedly attacks the basket and brings help toward the lane. Williamson’s ability to score through contact could force the visitors to change coverages, creating passing lanes for Murray and Fears. Memphis has the more stable early-season record and enough athletic wings to disrupt those actions; turnovers by New Orleans would quickly erase the home advantage. Both clubs play with motivation in the Cup group, but neither should be assumed to have postseason-level consistency in mid-November.

Zion Williamson can attack a Memphis frontcourt operating without Edey, but the home side cannot rely on doubtful perimeter players rescuing its spacing. That tension points to a close contest in which rebounding and turnover control matter more than either team's overall record.

Best Bet: Pelicans +2.5 (-115)

Pelicans +2.5 (-115) is the Best Bet. With Edey absent, Memphis has less natural protection against Williamson’s preferred downhill attacks, and New Orleans can make that advantage count even without ideal shooting depth. The number is small, so a straight-up home win is plausible without demanding a blowout. Murray’s ability to run organized half-court sets matters against a Grizzlies team that has recently been less convincing defensively. This is not a bet that the Pelicans suddenly have a complete roster; it is a bet on a specific size-and-location matchup.

The obvious concern is New Orleans’ perimeter depth. If Memphis packs the lane and the home side cannot punish help, the offense can stagnate. Memphis’s record also reflects a higher baseline of execution than the Pelicans have shown. A spread of New Orleans +1 would offer little room for error, whereas +2.5 provides a modest cushion; a better price at +3.5 would be preferable if available. The projected total sits close to the listed number, so the side is a clearer selection than either direction on the total.

Final Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans 119, Memphis Grizzlies 117

The Pelicans should be able to involve Williamson repeatedly inside while Murray steadies difficult stretches. Memphis has enough scoring to keep this close, but the home side is projected to edge it 119-117. That score gives New Orleans an outright victory and supports its +2.5 spread. Final Pick: Pelicans +2.5 (-115).