This is an early-season pivotal game for Memphis. The Grizzlies have lost two in a row at home during their homestand that concludes with this game. Those losses were to the Clippers and Trail Blazers. Now the Grizzlies step down in class to face Denver. The Grizzlies need this victory because six of their next seven games are on the road, including four straight.

The Grizzlies finally have their full rotation intact with Tony Allen returning from injury and Chandler Parsons, the team's big free-agent acquisition, set to play in his second game of the season after being out following knee surgery. Parsons played in Memphis' last game, which was two days ago, and was understandably rusty going scoreless in 22 minutes. He should play much better for this matchup.

The Grizzlies don't play again until Saturday so nothing should be held back.

Denver is fat and happy after playing its finest game of the season, beating Boston 123-107 on the road this past Sunday. This is the final game of the Nuggets' five-game, nine-day road trip.