Memphis Grizzlies vs Phoenix Suns – Preview & Prediction (Jan. 07, 2026)
Game snapshot
Memphis hosts Phoenix in what looks like a clash between two teams heading in different directions. Tip-off is Wednesday, January 7th at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Suns come in with better recent form, but the Grizzlies have the home crowd and the ability to pull off surprises on any night.
Form, injuries and matchups
Memphis has been frustratingly inconsistent this season. They’ve shown flashes of their potential in a handful of games, but too often follow those with sloppy performances. The Grizzlies are 16-20 and sitting outside the play-in spots, coming off a narrow home win over San Antonio where defense in the fourth quarter and late shots from Cam Spencer helped seal a comeback. Jaren Jackson Jr. also had a strong outing in that win.
The Suns, meanwhile, have exceeded expectations after some offseason turnover. Phoenix is playing well as a unit and currently sits near the playoff picture with a 21-15 record. Their recent stretch has been solid, with only a couple of losses against quality opponents. Their most recent defeat came in a low-scoring affair where they struggled to score in the second half and missed a number of open looks from deep.
Head-to-head so far this season, Memphis eked out a tight win in the first meeting, taking the game by a single possession. Injury notes heading into this one list several names for the home side as unavailable, with a couple of others questionable, while the Suns will be missing a few players of their own. Those absences could influence rotations and minutes for both teams.
Prediction
On paper the Suns look steadier, but Memphis has the home advantage and a roster capable of turning in a focused performance after a morale-boosting win. Given the Grizzlies’ inconsistency and the Suns’ tendency to dominate when they’re clicking, this should be a close game. I’ll lean with Memphis to win at home — a confident, motivated Grizzlies squad can make it tough for Phoenix on the road.
