Grizzlies vs. Pelicans: A Beale Street to Bourbon Street Rivalry

When Do the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies Play Next?

New Orleans Pelicans tickets and Memphis Grizzlies tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies Rivals?

The Pelicans vs. Grizzlies rivalry is one between two of the newer franchises in the NBA. Because of that, neither of these teams would consider the other one a big rival. The teams play in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference but have rarely been good at the same time and they have never met in the playoffs. The Pelicans, previously the New Orleans Hornets, and the Grizzlies, previously the Vancouver Grizzlies, are both still searching for their first NBA titles.

Who are the New Orleans Pelicans’ Biggest Rivals?

The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have a true rivalry yet. That is mostly based on the fact that the franchise has only been around since 2002 and the team is still seeking consistent success in the league. For a franchise that is historically more than 100 games under .500, it’s hard to build up a rivalry with other teams. Despite having stars like Chris Paul and Anthony Davis, the Pelicans have not advanced past the conference semifinal round of the postseason in franchise history.

Who are the Memphis Grizzlies’ Biggest Rivals?

The Grizzlies’ biggest rival is the Oklahoma City Thunder. The two franchises used to be close in proximity when they were in Vancouver and Seattle, respectively. The early 2010s saw three playoff series between the two teams as well, with stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph battling it out. The Thunder won in 2011 and 2014 while the Grizzlies took the series in 2013. The Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs also have rivalries with Memphis.

Game Results Between the Pelicans & Grizzlies

In the 2023–2024 season, the Pelicans vs. Grizzlies games have seen the Grizzlies win two out of the first three matchups. The Pelicans won the first meeting on October 25, 2023, but the Grizzlies won on December 19, 2023, and December 26, 2023. The final meeting of the regular season comes on February 12 in Memphis.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies History

The Pelicans vs. Grizzlies history has been a rather even one. The Pelicans own a slight edge, 48 wins to 38 wins. The Pelicans and Grizzlies have not met in the postseason and only four times has each team qualified for the playoffs in the same season. The two teams have shared the spotlight before, most notably in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Pelicans held the top pick and the Grizzlies the second pick. Both teams selected generational talent with Zion Williamson going first and Ja Morant going second. Since then, the Pelicans have made the playoffs once while the Grizzlies have enjoyed arguably the most success in the franchise’s history, winning the Southwest Division each of the past two seasons, a first for Memphis.

Where Do the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans Play?

The Memphis Grizzlies play at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. FedExForum opened in 2004 and has been home to the Grizzlies and University of Memphis basketball since then. It has hosted UFC fights, special events, and more.

The New Orleans Pelicans play at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. It opened in 1999 and has been home to the Hornets/Pelicans franchise since 2002.