Unbeaten Memphis visits unbeaten Portland while the winless Kings and Pelicans meet

Somebody's perfect start ends tonight. The Memphis Grizzlies (4-0) visit the Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) at 10 p.m. ET, two of the three undefeated teams left in the NBA. Two hours earlier, the winless Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans meet in New Orleans, and one of them gets off the schneid.

Nobody saw Memphis coming. The Grizzlies went 25-57 last season and gave up 120.7 points a game, according to the Associated Press. Now Ty Jerome is averaging 29.8 points and 6.5 assists, and Cameron Boozer is pulling down 10.5 rebounds a game, per ESPN. Memphis has no one on its injury report.

Portland is shorthanded. Shaedon Sharpe is out with a meniscus injury, and Robert Williams III was downgraded to doubtful Thursday. Deni Avdija leads the Blazers at 22.3 points, and Ja Morant is handing out 6.3 assists. The team also picked up its options on Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen on Thursday. DraftKings still makes Portland a 7.5-point favorite at home.

The early game is the opposite end of the standings. Sacramento has lost four straight and is missing Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons (out for the season with an Achilles injury) and centers Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud. Zach LaVine is scoring 27.2 a game and Domantas Sabonis is averaging 16.5 rebounds, but the Kings have nobody behind them. New Orleans has Zion Williamson at 21.8 points, but Yves Missi is out and Jordan Poole was listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. The Pelicans are 6.5-point favorites.

Also at 8 p.m. ET, Cleveland (3-1) visits Atlanta (2-3) on NBA TV. The Hawks have lost three in a row, and Donovan Mitchell is averaging 24.8 points for the Cavaliers.

What's next: If Memphis wins in Portland without much from anyone but Jerome, it is time to take the Grizzlies seriously. And whoever loses in New Orleans falls to 0-5 with no excuses left.