Jazz limp into Memphis short-handed as Grizzlies host season opener

The Jazz roll into FedExForum on Wednesday night looking more like a MASH unit than a playoff contender. Jusuf Nurkic and three rotation pieces are sitting this one out, which means Jaxson Hayes — yes, that Jaxson Hayes — is suddenly your starting center. Good luck with that.

Memphis opens at home coming off a solid 110.2 points per game last season, but let's pump the brakes on assuming this turns into a track meet. The total has plummeted from 243.5 to 239.5, and sharp money doesn't chase four points down for no reason. Opening night jitters are real, and Utah's gutted frontcourt kills their ability to crash the glass and punish the paint. No Nurkic means fewer second-chance buckets and a lot more Hayes flailing around trying to remember his defensive rotations.

Both squads can score when healthy — Utah averaged 111.8 last year — but this isn't a healthy Jazz roster, and season openers are notoriously sloppy. The market has spoken loud and clear, and we're riding with it. DarkHorse likes the under 239.5 at moderate confidence. Expect a grinding, disjointed affair where possessions die in the halfcourt and neither team finds much rhythm. Fade the offensive fireworks tonight.