Pelicans @ Grizzlies

Who will WIN this matchup?

New Orleans Pelicans (16-27)

@ Memphis Grizzlies (20-22)

Current odds:

New Orleans Pelicans: (+120)

Memphis Grizzlies: (-140)

• The line for this game is Memphis by 2.5 points.

• The Memphis Grizzlies have surged into a playoff position in the Western Conference with seven straight victories and look to continue their ascent in the standings when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. The Grizzlies, who hold down the eighth spot in the West, are averaging 124.3 points during their season-high streak that continued Friday by grinding out a 113-109 over Cleveland. “These are situations we’ve faced a number of times during the season where you’ve got a lead and maybe a play here or there could have just flipped the game,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. “But our guys stuck with it, despite having a mostly off night. … We found enough sparks through the game to build the lead, keep the lead and come away with a victory.” The Grizzlies, who split the season series in 2018-19 and visit New Orleans on Jan. 31, will avoid facing No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson in his NBA debut as the Duke star is expected to play for the first time after knee surgery Wednesday against San Antonio at home.

• Williamson will be joining another team that is on the rise as the Pelicans won nine of 12 games before succumbing against the powerful Los Angeles Clippers 133-130 on Saturday. “They have some good players over there that know how to make plays offensively,” New Orleans big man Derrick Favors told reporters after his second straight double-double. “… We were in them, we contested a lot of shots. They just made tough shots, so you have to tip your hat to that.”

• Brandon Ingram followed up his career-high 49-point performance against Utah on Thursday by pouring in 21 against the Clippers and is averaging team bests of 25.6 points along with 6.8 rebounds. Guard Lonzo Ball registered a triple-double with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds Saturday while wing shooter J.J. Redick scored 19 and has drained 20-of-37 from beyond the arc in six January games. Rookie forward Jaxson Hayes stepped up his production of late, averaging 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds over the past six games, and is shooting 77.1 percent from the field this month.

• Point guard Ja Morant said his team must stay hungry and the rookie has been leading the way this month by averaging 19.8 points and 8.8 assists to improve his season numbers to 17.9 and 7.0, respectively. Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. scored in double figures 14 straight games and is second on the team at 17.8 per game despite being held to 10 in 20 minutes by Cleveland. Guard Dillon Brooks scored at least 22 points in five of his last seven games and Memphis is 13-0 when he records at least 20 in a game, while rookie forward Brandon Clarke averaged 14.5 in the last two.

• Favors is averaging 13.4 points in January after managing just 8.3 in December and recorded eight double-doubles in his last 12 games

• Memphis leads the league in assists per game (28.0), but is 27th in scoring defense (115.8) entering Sunday.

• New Orleans C Jahlil Okafor (back) missed two games since scoring 25 versus Detroit, and is questionable for Monday.