The New Orleans Pelicans have from nowhere strung together four straight wins but the high-flying Memphis Grizzlies can put them in their place at the FedExForum.
If the Pelicans had given up on 2024/25 then they are going about in an odd way.
With a 7-31 record just two weeks ago, New Orleans' only battle looked to be avoiding finishing bottom of the Western Conference.
Fast forward two weeks and all's well in the Bayou where Willie Green's men are now scoring, not tanking.
Sure, the play-ins still look an unattainable dream but five wins in their last six give their record a rosier 12-32 look and, looking fresh after their clash with the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday was snowed off, they will be feeling perkier heading to Memphis.
And while this still looks a shootout between a good team and a competent one, the competent visitors are quite capable of staying the right side of a 12-point spread.
The Pelicans' surge has one major caveat - the fixture schedule. Two of their five wins have been against Utah, they saw off a Philadelphia side who can't buy a win and another victim, Chicago, are struggling at the moment.
On the flip side, it's worth noting that the one loss in their last six was by just one point in Boston so there is a newer, competitive feel to the Pelicans.
The source of the success is CJ McCollum, who is averaging 22.4 points per game this season, and has thrice cleared 38 points since the turn of the year.
Memphis (29-15) need to have a plan for McCollum though the Grizzlies will also be confident on a four-game winning run of their own.
They boast the most productive offense in the league (123.5) with Desmond Bane on a roll of six 20-plus games in a row.
They are 2-0 against the Pelicans this season winning by 11 points and eight.
The points bar looks like it might have been set too high at 244.5.
A 244.5 line hasn't been covered in 19 of New Orleans' last 20 road games while the Grizzlies' 132-120 win over Charlotte on Wednesday was the first time in four home games they've covered 244.5.
We know about the exciting Grizzlies' offense but the Pelicans have only once conceded over 120 points in their last 12 games.
Pelicans' guard Dejounte Murray has had seven rebounds or more in five of his last six games.
Murray is coming off one of his best ever games for New Orleans with 26 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists in Monday's win against the Jazz.
He is listed as probable after picking up an elbow problem but the word is he'll be getting suited in Memphis.
Grizzlies' shooting guard Desmond Bane is averaging 22.6 points since the turn of the year and has cleared 20 points in 10 of his last 11 games.
It's been a big week for Bane who learned that TCU are going to retire his jersey next month and if that is making the spotlight on him shine brighter, then he is thriving.
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New Orleans Pelicans | +500 ML |
Memphis Grizzlies | -700 ML |
Spread | MEM -12.0 |
Total Points | O/U 244.5 |
CJ McCollum (NO Pelicans) | O/U 23.5 |
Yves Missi (NO Pelicans) | O/U 8.5 |
Dejounte Murray (NO Pelicans) | O/U 18.5 |
Desmond Bane (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 19.5 |
Ja Morant (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 22.5 |
Jaylen Wells (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 11.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.