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A major test is coming for the Memphis Grizzlies in the next two weeks. But first, the franchise is eyeing a game Thursday night that otherwise would fly under the radar.
Don’t let the Raptor’s 7-23 record fool you. The Memphis Grizzlies know this is one they need to take seriously.
Awaiting Memphis after Thursday’s home game is a 10-day road trip that begins and ends with back-to-back games.
 Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) handles the ball against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Dec. 23 in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP file)
Memphis will take on the New Orleans Pelicans on the road Friday night before heading West to play a gauntlet against the Thunder, Suns, Kings and Warriors.
The schedule won’t loosen up from there. In fact, following Friday’s game in New Orleans, the Grizzlies will play 11-straight games against hopeful playoff contenders in the Western Conference.
So yes, it would be nice to snag a win against Toronto and build up some cushion in the standings.
“Obviously, you want to go into a road trip, especially with it being a back-to-back, with a win,” Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama said. “That obviously helps. But, we need to take this one day at a time.”
Memphis center Zach Edey echoed the same message, acknowledging that the team is aware of its challenges ahead.
“This is big,” Edey said. “You want to start the road trip coming off a win. A 10-game stretch with back-to-backs — you want to start that with some momentum for sure.
Edey’s childhood team
Edey, who is from Toronto, will play against the team he grew up cheering for as a kid.
“(The Raptors) were the only team I really knew growing up,” Edey said. “I hadn’t played too much basketball. You heard about the Raptors, and I always heard about Chris Bosh. That was kind of the team.”
 Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) blocks a shot by Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Dec. 21 in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP file)
Edey eventually moved to Bradenton, Florida, to develop his game at hoops powerhouse IMG Academy, but he continued to follow Toronto.
“They kind of got me into basketball,” Edey said. “They won that (2019) championship right before I started playing and it got me more interested. I watched that whole run.”
Classic Canada
Altogether, the Toronto game will feature six Canadian players, including Edey, Brandon Clarke, Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher, RJ Barrett and AJ Lawson.
The Grizzlies will also play on their classic Vancouver court and will wear their classic Vancouver Grizzlies uniforms. The Raptors wear their classic-edition purple uniforms.
 Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (left) drives the lane against then-Utah Jazz defender Kelly Olynyk (right) during action Feb. 15, 2023. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
It will also mean something to Raptors forward Olynyk, a Canadian who grew up in British Columbia not far from Vancouver.
“It’s cool,” Olynyk said. “It’s nostalgic, for sure, seeing this old (Grizzlies) logo growing up and this old court. It’s kind of paying homage to the past and everything that came before you but also a simpler time in your life. So it’s really cool to be a part of and it’s really fun for me. I’m excited for this one.”
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