The Portland Trail Blazers continue their red-hot-and-rolling start to the 2026-2027 season tonight, returning to the Moda Center to take on the undefeated Memphis Grizzlies.
A nuclear start from Ty Jerome (29.8 points per game), poised outings by third overall pick Cameron Boozer, and a forgiving early-season schedule have propelled the Grizzlies (4-0) to the top of the Western Conference.
Your Portland Trail Blazers have seen similar success to begin the year. An offensive explosion against the previously
unbeaten Los Angeles Lakers saw the Blazers climb to 3-0 to start the year.
What you need to Know:
Memphis Grizzlies (4-0) at Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) – Thursday, October 29th – 7:00pm Pacific
How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else
How to listen: Rip City Radio 620AM
Trail Blazers Injuries: Shaedon Sharpe, Branden Carlson, Chris Youngblood (Out).
Grizzlies Injuries:
The Grizzlies Report
Memphis’ strong start has been buoyed by the otherworldly offensive production of Ty Jerome. In four starts, Jerome has averaged 29.8 points and 6.5 assists on 50% from the field and 37% from three. In the Grizzlies’ season opener against the Utah Jazz, Jerome went for 45 points on 17-25 from the field. He has since steadily declined, putting up only 15 points on 4-15 shooting in his most recent contest.
Jerome offers a similar defensive challenge to that brought by Luka Doncic. Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday will have their hands full navigating high ball screens. The Blazers will likely continue to play in “the lowest drop coverage in the NBA” (per Lakers head coach JJ Reddick), meaning that Jerome will be able to exploit any space given by Portland’s point-of-attack defenders.
Rookie forward Cameron Boozer has been a valuable addition in spite of woeful shooting output. Although he shoots just 27.9% from the field, Boozer boasts an average plus-minus of +9. He also has the highest defensive rating of any rookie this season at 104.0. Cameron Boozer is a winning basketball player: His totals (14.8 PTS, 10.5 REB, and 4.8 AST), advanced statistics, and the eye-test all reinforce this. Between Boozer and Edey’s interior presence, the Blazers will have to continue their steady performance from three to put Memphis away.
The Blazers Report
The vibes in Portland are perhaps the best they’ve been since 2019. Whereas 2019’s good-feeling and merriment were largely driven by results, today’s are largely focused on the “what if” of this Blazers squad.
The season opener against the Phoenix Suns was a rout like no-other; a game in which the Blazers — at one point — led by three touchdowns. Their victory against the Kings was a back-to-earth performance against one of, if not the very worst, teams in the NBA. The Blazers escaped with a win. However, their championship aspirations were tempered in the process. Then came the Lakers.
In a Defense Optional shootout against the mightily annoying Los Angeles Lakers, the Blazers demonstrated their formidable depth and play-making abilities. The first Dame Time three-pointer in years capped off one of the team’s more memorable wins in the last three Lillard-less seasons.
This fixture against the Grizzlies represents an opportunity for the Blazers to continue their good vibes against a good-but-not-prospectively-great squad. A quality win will help cement the Blazers’ early-season status as a competitive basketball team.
Ja Morant’s Old Flame
Tonight’s contest also represents Ja Morant’s first matchup against the team that drafted him. Will the Blazers allow him to lean into the emotional gravity of the situation and feature him more on offense? Will they continue to play with the same egalitarian principles that have, so far, brought success?
With each passing game, Morant seems to grow into both himself and the squad. Against the Lakers, he looked more comfortable than he has at any time since joining the Blazers. If this trend continues against the Grizzlies, the ceiling of this Blazer team certainly rises.
Tonight
Join us for our Game Day discussion thread opening an hour before tip-off, plus recaps, analysis, and our Media Row Report following the action!
