October 17, 2026 at 3:30 PM UTC

Postgame Report

Grizzlies close the preseason with an 18-point win over Hornets

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Memphis beat Charlotte 116-98 in Friday's preseason finale at home, with Cameron Boozer leading five starters and Hannes Steinbach posting a double-double in defeat.

The Grizzlies finished their preseason Friday night the way they would have wanted, beating the Hornets 116-98 at home in the last tune-up before the games count. Memphis was never in much danger late. Cameron Boozer led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a team-high 29 minutes, and Ty Jerome added 17 points and four assists.

For Charlotte, the night fit the preseason it has had. The Hornets arrived 1-2, with losses to Brooklyn and Boston, and the turnovers that have dogged them in those games did not go away. The one clear individual bright spot was Hannes Steinbach, who came off the bench for 19 points and 10 rebounds, a double-double in 28 minutes. Christian Anderson chipped in 15 points and six assists, and Naz Reid scored 12.

The Hornets again did this without LaMelo Ball, and the roster still has the look of one working out who it is. Brandon Miller gave them what they could count on, scoring 15 points in 25 minutes, though he did not grab a rebound and had two assists. Charlotte has talked about being competitive this season even with its franchise player out, and Friday did not make that case with much force.

The other piece Charlotte is waiting on is Kon Knueppel, who did not play. His hoped-for return would help a team short on creators. Memphis, meanwhile, got 13 points from Cedric Coward and 10 points and six rebounds from Zach Edey, and it goes into the regular season with its rotation looking settled.

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