Grizzlies roll out the red carpet for a hobbled Pelicans squad—Memphis -6.5 looks generous

The Grizzlies are 6-0 and playing like a team possessed at FedExForum, where they're averaging 129.5 points per game while holding opponents to just 104. That's not a typo—that's a 25-point margin of dominance on their home floor. Now they welcome a Pelicans side that's already shown they can't handle life on the road, sitting 0-2 away from home and bleeding 130.5 points per game in those contests.

New Orleans is down starting center Yves Missi and sixth-man Jordan Poole, gutting their depth at the exact wrong time. Their defense has been Swiss cheese all season at 117.8 points allowed per game, and Memphis's 117.7 offensive efficiency rating is built to exploit exactly that kind of vulnerability. When a perfect team with elite home splits faces a banged-up squad that can't defend or win away from home, six and a half points feels like a gift.

DarkHorse AI has Memphis -6.5 at a robust 4/5 confidence, and it's hard to argue. The Grizzlies should control tempo, dominate the paint with Missi out, and extend their perfect start. This number screams trap for Pelicans backers—take the home side and don't overthink it.