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There's certainly no love lost between the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. Two years ago the Grizzlies eliminated the Warriors from the postseason in the play-in tournament. Last season, Golden State returned the favor by winning a six-game series against Memphis in the Western Conference semifinals.

Along the way there's been plenty of trash talk, and it's only heightened the on-court product -- the latest installment of which will take place on Christmas Day in San Francisco. Unfortunately for all of us, but particularly the Warriors, Steph Curry will not play in the matchup due to a shoulder injury. However, Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant is must-see entertainment, equally capable of throwing down a monster dunk or skying to top of the backboard for a block.

After finishing with the second-best record in the league last season, Memphis has gotten off to another strong start to the 2022-23 campaign, tied with the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Western Conference. The same can't be said for the defending champion Warriors, who have sputtered to a 15-18 record to begin the season, including a dreadful 3-16 on the road. You don't have to be a mathematician to deduce that the Warriors have been excellent at Chase Center with a 12-2 record, so it should be a heated and competitive game on Sunday.

Here's everything you need to know about the showdown:

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors

  • When: Sunday, Dec. 25 | 8 p.m. ET  
  • Where: Chase Center -- San Francisco, California
  • TV: ABC/ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)  
  • Odds: GSW +4.5; O/U: 229 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Storylines

Grizzlies: Morant recently neglected to mention any significant competition in the Western Conference, saying "I'm fine in the West." This is the chance for him and the Grizzlies to prove it in a primetime holiday matchup. Adding to their power, the Grizzlies are healthy for a change. Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane played together for the first time this season in Friday's win over the Suns, and all three will be suiting up against the Warriors as well. Last season, lineups featuring the trio averaged 115.2 points per 100 possessions with a net rating of plus-6.7. In English: they were very good.

You can also expect to see some theatrics from the likes of Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks, whose flagrant foul broke Gary Payton II's elbow in their postseason series against the Warriors. Even with Payton on a different team, the Warriors haven't forgotten Brooks' actions and words.

Warriors: How does one survive without Steph Curry? The Warriors haven't figured out the answer to the philosophical question, either this season or in years past. Most of the responsibility has fallen on fourth-year guard Jordan Poole, who has averaged nearly 28 points in four games since Curry's injury, including a career-high 43 in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately for Golden State, that was the only win on a six-game road trip, leading Draymond Green to call his team "very fragile" mentally. Not great.

Ultimately the Christmas Day matchup with the Grizzlies is going to come down to defense, because the Warriors simply don't have the firepower to win a shootout without Curry. It's going to be a full team effort, with Klay Thompson taking some perimeter responsibility and Green and Kevon Looney protecting the rim against a Grizzlies team that leads the NBA in points in the paint.

Prediction

The Warriors will be home underdogs, but they're a very difficult team to beat at Chase Center and will come out looking for a statement win. That being said, the Grizzlies are just too talented and will be eager to pick up a win against the team they're trying to knock off its pedestal. Pick: Grizzlies -4.5