The NBA arrives in Germany as the Memphis Grizzlies face off against the Orlando Magic in the inaugural Berlin Game 2026 on Thursday. This historic matchup marks the first regular season game for the league in the country. The Grizzlies are coming off a narrow victory, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 103-98, while the Magic secured a win against the New Orleans Pelicans with a score of 128-118 on the same day.
Currently, Memphis holds a record of 17-22 and has struggled against Eastern Conference teams with a 3-9 record, whereas Orlando sits at 22-18, boasting a notable 7-4 record against Western teams. Fans can look forward to the return of Berlin native Franz Wagner for the Magic, who has been sidelined since December 7 due to an ankle injury. However, both teams will be missing key players, with Jalen Suggs out for Orlando due to a knee issue and Ja Morant absent from Memphis due to a calf injury.
The game will tip off at 2 p.m. ET at the Uber Arena in Berlin. The Grizzlies lead the overall series against the Magic with a record of 31-26, having won seven of their last eight encounters. In terms of betting, the Magic are favored by 5.5 points according to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, with an over/under line set at 228.5 points for total scoring.
As the game approaches, the SportsLine Projection Model has also simulated the matchup 10,000 times, predicting various outcomes. In line with recent trends, the model suggests the total points may go under 228.5. Notably, the under has been hit in three of the last five meetings between these teams and has also been successful in four of the last five games for the Grizzlies.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. expected to lead the scoring for Memphis with an average of 21.7 points, and Paolo Banchero projected to score 23.3 points for Orlando, fans can expect a thrilling game filled with competitive play. As both teams strive to improve their records, the Berlin Game is set to offer an exciting showcase of NBA talent in a new international setting.