Hornets-Grizzlies Preseason Finale: Expect Chaos, Not Fireworks

Friday night's preseason closer between Charlotte and Memphis has all the hallmarks of a sloppy, disjointed affair—which is exactly why the under 229.5 makes sense. Both squads are limping to the finish line of exhibition play with depleted rosters and zero incentive to push starters beyond evaluation mode.

The Hornets are particularly banged up. Coby White and rookie Kon Knueppel are day-to-day, while Grant Williams and Grayson Allen remain out. That forces head coach Charles Lee to dig deep into his bench, trotting out camp bodies who'll struggle to run coherent offense against even preseason defensive intensity. Memphis isn't much better off—Isaiah Stewart and Micah Peavy are sidelined, meaning Taylor Jenkins will also lean on fringe rotation guys and two-way players who lack chemistry.

Preseason finales are notorious for this: coaches pull the plug early on anyone remotely important, and the result is extended minutes for players who can't execute at NBA speed. Expect plenty of turnovers, stagnant possessions, and lineups that have never shared the floor together. This total feels inflated for a game that'll resemble a glorified scrimmage more than competitive basketball. We're riding the under and banking on preseason slop to do the heavy lifting.