Memphis Grizzlies 2023-24 schedule: Ja Morant's first game after suspension, Dillon Brooks' return

The Memphis Grizzlies' 2023-24 schedule is here, and with it comes several notable dates.

The regular season will start a week later this year, which means Ja Morant's potential return is likely to come later than it would have last season. Morant's debut after his 25-game suspension, Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones' returns to Memphis and key road trips were some of the most anticipated dates on the calendar.

Now that the NBA schedule is out, here are some takeaways from the Grizzlies' slate.

Ja Morant's potential return

The Grizzlies will play their 26th game of the season against the New Orleans Pelicans, which is the same team Memphis will begin its regular season against on Oct. 25. The Pelicans and Grizzlies will play four times as division rivals, but these two meetings stand out. One will be the first regular-season game, while the other will mark the first potential opportunity that Morant could return.

The Dec. 19 game at New Orleans will be nationally televised. The first home game after Morant's 25-game suspension will be Dec. 21 against the Indiana Pacers.

Tough schedule during Ja Morant suspension

At least 20 of the first 25 games while Morant is out will be against Western Conference foes. Several playoff tiebreakers could be heavily affected by this stretch. In the first 25 games, the Grizzlies play the Dallas Mavericks three times and the Phoenix Suns twice.

Of the three games against teams from the less powerful East, two will come against the teams that played in the conference finals, the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Morant's potential return also will come after the NBA's in-season tournament. The Grizzlies are in a division that includes the Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Memphis has two open dates on its early December schedule that will be determined based on the team's results in the tournament.

When Grizzlies play Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones

Memphis didn't have much roster turnover, but two key contributors are no longer with the team. Brooks is now a member of the Houston Rockets, and they will host he Grizzlies on Nov. 22. He will make his first return to FedExForum on Dec. 15.

While Brooks will have four meetings against the Grizzlies, Jones will play Memphis just twice. His first meeting will come Oct. 28 in Washington, then the return to FedExForum on March 12.

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No Rivals Week, key road trips

The Grizzlies were a big part of the NBA's inaugural Rivals Week last season when they played the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. This season, Memphis will not be included in the Rivals Week coverage.

The Grizzlies don't have a road trip longer than four games, which wasn't the case last season. However, they have a stretch starting Dec. 18 of six out of seven on the road, and another beginning March 18, where seven out of eight games will be away. The March stretch is notable for its potential playoff implications. Five of the eight games will be against playoff teams from last season.

Preseason schedule

Memphis will start its preseason slate with two home games, beginning Oct. 8 against the Pacers. The Grizzlies will then host the Bucks before ending the five-game schedule in Milwaukee on Oct. 20.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies schedule release: Ja Morant's return, Dillon Brooks