The Memphis Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz at FedExForum in Memphis for the opening round of the NBA Regular Season on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time (19:00 local venue time), with live broadcast coverage available on KJZZ, DAZN, Jazz+, NBA League Pass, and Fubo.
Both teams enter the 2026-27 regular season with 0-0 records after finishing the preseason with identical 3-1 campaigns. The matchup marks the NBA debut of two top picks from the 2026 Draft: power forward Cameron Boozer (third overall pick, formerly of Duke) for the Memphis Grizzlies, and guard Darryn Peterson (second overall pick, formerly of Kansas) for the Utah Jazz. In the previous 2025-26 campaign, the Memphis Grizzlies finished with a 25-57 record in the Western Conference, while the Utah Jazz placed last in the conference at 22-60. In their final regular season meeting on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 147 to 101.
Where to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz live
Viewers in the United States have five broadcast and streaming options to watch the season opener live.
- KJZZ: over-the-air television
- DAZN: streaming
- Jazz+: streaming
- NBA League Pass: streaming
- Fubo: streaming
Time and venue for Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz
- Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (20:00 America/New_York) / 19:00 local time at the venue (America/Chicago)
- Venue: FedExForum, in Memphis
- Competition and stage: NBA (North American basketball league) — Regular Season
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How the Memphis Grizzlies arrive
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo begins his second season in charge of the Memphis Grizzlies following a 3-1 preseason record. The franchise starts a new chapter without guard Ja Morant, who was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers during the offseason, and without power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who was previously traded to the Utah Jazz. “This is never easy. It’s like when you’re lifting weights. You reach a certain point with your strength, and there’s only more to do. So, you have to then increase the weight that you lift,” said Tuomas Iisalo.
The starting lineup used by the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason and projected for the opener features point guard Ty Jerome, shooting guard Cedric Coward, power forward Cameron Boozer, and center Zach Edey, while small forward has seen projections alternating between Jaylen Wells and Jerami Grant. At 7-foot-4, Zach Edey is healthy for the opener after undergoing two left ankle surgeries that limited him to 11 games in the 2025-26 season. “I felt good moving for sure,” stated Zach Edey regarding his physical recovery during the preseason. Tuomas Iisalo also addressed the center’s workload: “We have to be very smart with Zach overall, with the long-term in mind and making sure that he’s a big part of our future. We want to protect that.”
On the official injury report, power forward and center Isaiah Stewart is listed as doubtful due to a left ankle sprain suffered on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the preseason opener. In his absence, Quinten Post is expected to serve as the immediate backup center.
How the Utah Jazz arrive
Coached by Will Hardy, the Utah Jazz also completed the preseason with three wins and one loss. The projected starting five for the season opener consists of point guard Keyonte George, shooting guard Darryn Peterson, small forward Lauri Markkanen, power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., and center Kyle Filipowski. The game marks Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return to Memphis wearing the opposing jersey, while Lauri Markkanen enters the new campaign after averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds across 42 games in the 2025-26 season.
For the opening game, the Utah Jazz have confirmed absences in the frontcourt, with center Jusuf Nurkić (foot injury) and center Tony Bradley (quadriceps injury) both ruled out. Forward Blake Hinson (hamstring injury) and guard Trey Alexander (knee injury) are also on the injury report, with sources listing them either as out or as game-time decisions.
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Officiating for Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz
The officiating crew for the game (Crew Chief, Referee, and Umpire) had not yet been announced at the time of publication, as the NBA releases the official assignments only on the day of the game. Instead of a soccer-style video assistant referee (VAR), the league uses the official NBA Replay Center for video reviews, and technical foul limits accumulate across the regular season up to 16 infractions rather than carrying one-game yellow card suspension thresholds.
Head-to-head history between Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz
During the 2025-26 regular season, the four-game series between the two teams ended tied at 2-2. The Utah Jazz won on December 12, 2025, by 130 to 126, and on April 10, 2026, by 147 to 101. The Memphis Grizzlies secured victories on December 23, 2025, by 137 to 128, and on February 20, 2026, by 123 to 114. The squads also met in the NBA Summer League on July 6, 2026, where the Utah Jazz won 109 to 100.
In the 2025-26 statistical rankings, the Utah Jazz recorded the ninth-best offense in the NBA with an average of 117.6 points per game, but finished with the league’s worst defense, allowing 126.0 points per game (30th out of 30 teams). The Memphis Grizzlies averaged 114.7 points scored (20th in the league) and 120.7 points allowed per game (26th).
