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Welcome back to your Grizzlies Insider, where we deliver the latest NBA news and analysis straight from Daily Memphian staffers Drew Hill, Chris Herrington and Geoff Calkins right into your inbox.
The best scenario Monday is simple: The Grizzlies beat the Pelicans, and the Spurs lose to the Bucks.
If that happens, the Grizzlies will clinch their spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament and nearly guarantee a home game in the postseason while doing so.
The standings window is closing for Memphis, which now looks destined to finish in the eighth or ninth position in the West. Either way, for the Grizzlies a date with a significant home game in mid-May is incredibly likely.
So welcome back playoff — err, perhaps play-in — basketball, FedExForum.
If Memphis does indeed finish eighth, they would probably travel to Los Angeles for the first play-in game.
Should they win, they would host at least two games as part of a first-round series. Should they lose, they will host the winner of the 9 vs. 10 play-in the Grindhouse.
And if they finish ninth? Well, in that scenario they would host the first play-in game, likely against the Spurs.
Isn’t this exciting?
Meaningful basketball is coming back to Memphis. Postseason basketball is coming back to Memphis. At least that’s what all the signs are pointing towards.
Are you ready?
 Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) brings the ball up court in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 4, 2021, at FedExForum. (Brandon Dill/AP file)
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