Two of the NBA's most intriguing young teams meet on opening night as the Utah Jazz travel to Memphis in a matchup featuring a pair of highly anticipated rookies. Utah has generated plenty of buzz throughout the offseason after adding Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick, giving the franchise another potential cornerstone alongside Lauri Markkanen and its growing collection of young talent. Peterson has already flashed the scoring ability and playmaking that made him one of the top prospects in the draft, and many believe the Jazz have finally assembled a balanced starting lineup capable of taking a significant step forward this season. The excitement surrounding Utah is warranted, and this feels like a team that could surprise plenty of opponents as the year unfolds.
Memphis, however, has a rising star of its own in Cameron Boozer - who was selected third overall following a dominant collegiate career. Boozer has quickly established himself as one of the headliners of this rookie class, and his versatility should fit seamlessly into a Grizzlies team looking to reestablish itself in the Western Conference. While Utah may receive more preseason hype, opening night often favors the team playing in a familiar environment, and Memphis benefits from both home court advantage and a roster that should feed off the energy inside FedExForum. This has all the makings of a competitive game between two teams with bright futures, but the Grizzlies are in the better spot to begin the season on the right foot. Utah is talented enough to contend throughout the year, yet asking a rookie-led team to win its first road game against an energized Memphis squad is a difficult assignment. I'll take the home favorite to capitalize on the atmosphere and do just enough to secure the victory.
Jazz vs Grizzlies prediction: Memphis ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that price.
