The Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers squared off in a high-stakes NBA matchup on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Both teams entered the contest with something to prove—Memphis looking to bounce back from a tough loss, and Philadelphia desperate to snap a three-game losing skid on their grueling five-game road trip.
Let’s set the stage: the 76ers, with a 16-14 record, had stumbled in their previous two outings, dropping games to the Chicago Bulls (109-102) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (129-104). The defeat against the Thunder was especially painful, as Philadelphia turned the ball over 23 times and watched the defending champions shoot a blistering 57% from the field. The Sixers’ offense, once potent, had been held to 106 points or fewer in each loss during their three-game slide.
Memphis, meanwhile, entered the night at 15-17, having just had a two-game winning streak snapped by the struggling Washington Wizards in a 116-112 loss. That defeat was doubly frustrating for the Grizzlies, who blew a 10-point third-quarter lead and failed to cover as 8-point favorites. Despite the disappointment, Memphis had shown resilience all season, going 5-1 after losses since November 20 and averaging a robust 120.1 points per game over their last nine contests.
Both squads were dealing with significant injury woes. The Sixers’ star center Joel Embiid, who had sprained his right ankle in a December 26 game against the Bulls, was a game-time decision. Embiid had missed nine games earlier in the season due to injury but was cleared to play against Memphis, bringing his averages of 21.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game back into the lineup. Philadelphia was still without forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) and Trendon Watford (adductor).
The Grizzlies’ injury list was even longer. Key perimeter defenders Vince Williams Jr. (knee), John Konchar (thumb), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) were all out. Centers Zach Edey (ankle) and Brandon Clarke (calf) were sidelined, while Jock Landale (calf) was trending toward playing and ultimately suited up. Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo was forced to start Christian Koloko at center, with Landale and Santi Aldama coming off the bench. The Grizzlies also missed forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper, out on a two-way contract.
With the injury report as long as a CVS receipt, both teams leaned heavily on their stars. For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey continued his breakout campaign, entering the game averaging an eye-popping 30.7 points per game—third in the league behind only Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Maxey also led the NBA in minutes (39.7) and shot attempts (22.8) per game, and had scored at least 28 points in seven of his last ten outings. In the first half, Maxey was electric, pouring in 24 points as the Sixers kept pace with Memphis.
On the Grizzlies’ side, rookie Cedric Coward stepped up in a big way, tallying 17 points and nine rebounds before halftime. The 6-foot-11 Koloko provided size and shot-blocking in the absence of Memphis’ usual frontcourt anchors. Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies’ leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, was coming off a 31-point performance against Washington and looked to continue his hot streak at home, where he averaged 16.1 points per contest.
By halftime, the scoreboard read 72-72, reflecting the offensive fireworks on both sides. Both teams shot better than 50% from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers apiece in the opening 24 minutes. The game was shaping up to be a shootout, just as many analysts predicted. According to SportsLine’s model, the total points were projected to go over 234.5 in more than half of 10,000 simulations, and the model saw one side of the spread hitting nearly 60% of the time.
Betting lines for the night reflected the tightness of the matchup. BetMGM Sportsbook listed the Sixers as narrow 1.5-point favorites (-115 moneyline), with the Grizzlies at -105. The over/under hovered around 233.5 to 234.5 points, right in line with both teams’ recent offensive tendencies. The Grizzlies had seen seven of their last ten games fall short of 234 total points, while eight of Philadelphia’s last ten also stayed under that mark. Still, with both teams lighting up the scoreboard early, the over was very much in play.
Strategically, Memphis looked to disrupt Maxey with perimeter defenders Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, but the absence of Caldwell-Pope and Williams Jr. left them thin on the wings. For the Sixers, Embiid’s presence was a huge lift, especially given his past success against the Grizzlies—he had posted 35 points and 11 rebounds in their most recent meeting. Yet, with Embiid only having played 13 games so far this season due to injury, it was always a question as to how much he could give.
Both teams had something to prove beyond just the win-loss column. Philadelphia, seventh in the Eastern Conference and trailing the Miami Heat by just half a game, needed a victory to stay in the playoff mix. Memphis, meanwhile, had captured both meetings with the Sixers the previous season and boasted a 4-1 record in their last five home games against Philadelphia. The Grizzlies were also fighting to avoid consecutive losses for only the second time since late November.
As the second half got underway, all eyes were on the stars. Would Maxey’s scoring binge continue? Could Embiid shake off the rust and dominate the paint? Would rookie Cedric Coward keep up his torrid pace? And might Jaren Jackson Jr. provide the late-game heroics Memphis needed?
With the game still in progress as of press time, the outcome remained up in the air. The contest had all the makings of a classic—two playoff hopefuls, both battered but unbowed, trading blows in a high-scoring affair. Fans tuning in on NBC or streaming on Peacock were treated to a showcase of young talent, veteran savvy, and playoff-level intensity, even in the middle of the regular season.
As the final buzzer approached, one thing was certain: whether it was the Sixers snapping their losing streak or the Grizzlies defending their home court, both teams left everything on the floor. The action in Memphis was far from over, and the race for playoff positioning in both conferences just got a little more interesting.
