The Pelicans are 7-3 over their last 10 games with two of the losses coming by seven or fewer points. Ja Morant is questionable with an illness and missed shootaround, so I’m going to predict that he doesn’t play for the Grizzlies. Zion Williamson is out for the Pelicans, but he didn’t play in either of the first two meetings between these two teams this season. The Pelicans still kept both games within 11 points. Take the points.

After missing the last two games with an illness, Pelicans big man Yves Missi is probable tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. With the Grizzlies rotating several bigs in their first and second units, Missi figures to have an expanded role. In two matchups against the Grizzlies he is averaging a double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Play his points over

CJ McCollum poured in 45 points last time out, an overtime win over Utah on Monday. I like him to score at least 24 Friday in Memphis. In his two meetings with the Grizzlies this season, McCollum scored 30 and 32 points. New Orleans will be without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones.

I'll be honest with you in that I barely understand today's NBA: 243.5 freaking points? Again, I am certainly not a "get off my lawn" type because I am not that old and, well, don't have a lawn but for comparison in the 1998 NBA Finals, MJ's last with those dynastic Bulls, the highest-scoring game was 181 total points -- and that was a shootout as Utah scored 54 in one. Don't think we need to go back to that style of NBA but this is too far the other way. We'll do this on "Grumpy Old Men" principle and with Ja Morant iffy -- missed the morning shootaround. Most models have this around 235 and that's with Morant.