Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Oct. 18 | 2024 NBA preseason

The Miami Heat and the Memphis Grizzlies close out their preseason with a matchup against each other on Friday. Miami, who won 120-116 against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, hopes to extend its three-game winning run at the expense of the hosts. Minus key veteran players, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will count on his young crew to finish the preseason with a flourish.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies continue to deal with injuries but are expected to allow Marcus Smart and Ja Morant to play. Santi Aldama, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Scotty Pippen Jr. and rookie Zach Edey are ready to suit up for coach Taylor Jenkins.

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Miami Heat vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Injury report

Heat injury report

Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson, Alec Burks and Kevin Love will not travel to Memphis on Friday. They are healthy, but the Heat will hold them out.

Grizzlies injury report

Luke Kennard (foot soreness) is questionable. Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring), Vince Williams Jr. (stress reaction), Cam Spencer (ankle sprain) and GG Jackson Jr. (operation recovery) are ruled out.

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Miami Heat vs. Memphis Grizzlies starting lineups and depth charts

Miami Heat starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Isaiah Stevens	Josh Christopher
Zyon Pullin	Dru Smith
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	Haywood Highsmith	Keshad Johnson
Nikola Jovic	Nassir Little	Warren Washington
Kel'el Ware	Thomas Bryant

Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Ja Morant	Yuki Kawamura
Marcus Smart	Scotty Pippen Jr.	John Konchar
Desmond Bane	Jake LaRavia	Jaylen Wells
Brandon Clarke	Yuta Watanabe	Armando Bacot
Zach Edey	Santi Aldama	Jay Huff

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Miami Heat vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Key matchups

Ja Morant vs. whoever the Heat will put on him

Without several key perimeter players, Erik Spoelstra will have to lean on unheralded players to try and stop Ja Morant. Rookies Isaiah Stevens and Zyon Pullin or two-way players Josh Christopher and Dru Smith will have that unenviable job.

Morant, who didn’t play Monday against the Indiana Pacers for rest, should be raring to see action again.

Zach Edey vs. Kel’el Ware

The battle between the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and the 7-foot Ke’el Ware has to be the matchup to watch on Friday. Edey is one of the early favorites to win the Rookie of the Year award, but Ware has turned heads in the preseason. The former is an immovable force inside the paint, while the latter has a range that extends to the 3-point line.

On defense, both are excellent rim protectors and rebounders. If they get substantial playing time, basketball fans can expect an entertaining battle between the two rookies.