Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors Picks and Predictions for Friday October 23 2026
I’m looking at Golden State laying 3.5 points Friday, and I keep coming back to one thing. Who’s going to help Stephen Curry? The Warriors have several guys missing, their opener against the Lakers got ugly, and now they’re facing a Memphis team that just spent Wednesday night beating Utah up around the basket. Maybe Curry gets hot and makes the whole argument look silly. He’s certainly done that before. But I don’t like asking him to carry this much of the load in the second game of the season.
Memphis won its opener 123-103. Golden State lost 127-105. That’s not the entire handicap, obviously, but it’s a pretty good place to start. The Grizzlies looked comfortable. The Warriors looked like a team still trying to figure out what it had available. Memphis visits Golden State at Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday, October 23, 2026. Tipoff is set for 10:00 PM ET. The Warriors are favored by 3.5 points, with the total at 235.5. Golden State is around -155 on the moneyline and Memphis is +130. Check out our free NBA picks for more games.
Memphis Grizzlies Made A Pretty Good First Impression
Memphis is 1-0 after beating Utah by 20. The Grizzlies led by 13 at halftime and opened the third quarter with an 18-4 run. Utah never recovered. Memphis eventually led by 27, and the fourth quarter was mostly about finishing the job. Not a bad opening night for a club that traded away Ja Morant and had some new faces to work into the lineup.
The Grizzlies grabbed 55 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive glass. They also scored 58 points in the paint. Utah couldn’t keep them away from the basket, and Golden State may have the same problem. Memphis isn’t going to get 45 points from Jerome every night, but it can win games by making opponents work for rebounds. The Warriors aren’t exactly loaded with healthy big men at the moment. That’s a matchup worth paying attention to.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Jerome was outstanding Wednesday. He made 17 of 25 shots, hit five threes and finished with 45 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Jerami Grant scored 15 in his Memphis debut, and Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson had 12 each. Cameron Boozer made only two of 15 shots, but grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out five assists. Isaiah Stewart missed the opener with an ankle injury. His status matters, although Memphis managed to dominate the glass without him against Utah.
Golden State Warriors Have A Few Problems Already
Golden State is 0-1 after losing to the Lakers 127-105. The Warriors trailed by 14 at halftime, then managed just 16 points in the third quarter. Los Angeles scored 36. That pretty much ended the evening. Curry didn’t play in the fourth, and Golden State never had a realistic chance to get back into it.
The Warriors allowed the Lakers to shoot 58.2% from the floor. Some of that was the Lakers playing terrific basketball. Some of it was Golden State not getting stops. Memphis presents a different kind of challenge. The Grizzlies are going to attack the boards, and the Warriors can’t afford to give them two or three shots on the same possession. Golden State also needs more offense than it got Wednesday. Scoring 105 isn’t going to be enough very often if the defense looks like that.
Curry scored 23 against the Lakers, including 20 in the first half. He’s also been dealing with an ankle issue. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are out with knee injuries, while Kristaps Porzingis remains sidelined. Brandin Podziemski missed the opener with back soreness, and Charles Bassey has a knee problem. Podziemski averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, and Golden State could certainly use him. The Warriors have enough problems without putting everything on Curry’s shoulders.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors Picks and Predictions
Memphis Grizzlies +3.5 (-110)
I’ll take the Grizzlies and the points. Curry is the obvious danger, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he scored 35 or 40. But Memphis is coming off a game where it controlled the boards, got into the paint, and never gave Utah much of a chance after halftime. Golden State doesn’t have its full lineup, and the Warriors just gave up 127 points. I think Memphis can make this uncomfortable for them. Three and a half points is worth taking, and I wouldn’t rule out a Memphis win.
Under 235.5 Points (-110)
The total is a tougher call, but I’m staying under. Golden State scored 105 in its opener, and Memphis held Utah to 103. The Warriors are missing too much offense for me to assume they’re going to put up 120 or more. Jerome’s 45-point game was terrific, but I don’t expect him to repeat it. Memphis can get out and run, and Curry can make a total look foolish when he’s hitting from deep. Still, I see Golden State having to grind through possessions with a short lineup. I’ll call it Memphis 116, Golden State 113.
Final Picks: Memphis Grizzlies +3.5 (-110) and Under 235.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 22, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5, Get $200 + 3 Months of NBA League Pass!
