From BBQ Smoke to Riverwalk Glory: Grizzlies vs. Spurs Rivalry History

When Do the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies Play Next?

San Antonio Spurs tickets and Memphis Grizzlies tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies Rivals?

Yes, the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies are rivals. The rivalry stems from these teams both being in the NBA’s Southwest Division as well as meeting in the NBA Playoffs four separate times in the 2010s.

Who are the San Antonio Spurs’ Biggest Rivals?

Along with the Memphis Grizzlies, the San Antonio Spurs are rivals with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. The Spurs also have a rivalry with the Phoenix Suns after several contentious NBA Playoff matchups in the 2000s.

Who are the Memphis Grizzlies’ Biggest Rivals?

Besides the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies’ biggest rivals are the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs and Thunder rivalry comes from the heated matchups during the 2012, 2014, and 2016 NBA Playoff appearances between these teams.

Game Results Between the Spurs & Grizzlies

The San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies games are always a highly-anticipated matchup for NBA fans. We put together a table of the Spurs vs. Grizzlies head-to-head competitions in recent years to help fans relive these hard-fought contests.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies History

The San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies played their first game against each other when the Memphis Grizzlies (then the Vancouver Grizzlies) joined the NBA in 1995. The first game between these rivals was a blowout, with the Spurs winning 111-62. The Spurs dominated the Grizzlies for close to their entire time in the NBA. Starting in the 1997–98 season, the Spurs swept the Grizzlies in five straight seasons for a total of 21 consecutive wins. At the start of the 2003–04 season, the total record between these rivals was 27–4. The San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies met for the first time in the NBA Playoffs during the 2003–04 season, with the Spurs sweeping the Grizzlies 4–0 in the Western Conference First Round.

The true rivalry between these two teams began to form when the NBA created the Southwest Division during the 2004–05 season, adding the Spurs and Grizzlies to the division with three other teams. Although the Spurs remained dominant throughout the 2000s, the rivalry began to pick up steam when the Spurs and Grizzlies met in the NBA Playoffs for the second time in 2011. During the 2011 Western Conference First Round, the No. 8 ranked Grizzlies upset the top seeded Spurs 4-2 for the Grizzlies’ only NBA Playoff series victory over their rival Spurs. 2013 saw the revenge of the Spurs as they swept the Grizzlies 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals. The NBA Playoff contention continued in 2016, with the Spurs sweeping the Grizzlies 4-0 in the Western Conference First Round. The Spurs vs. Grizzlies rivalry saw their final NBA Playoff matchup in 2017 where the Spurs defeated the Grizzlies 4-2 in the Western Conference First Round. As of 2023, the Grizzlies have a 10-game win streak over the Spurs — their largest since first entering the NBA in 1995.

The total regular season record between the Spurs and Grizzlies as of 2023 is 74-36 in favor of San Antonio. The San Antonio Spurs are also ahead in their post season record against the Grizzlies, with a record of 18-6.

Where Do the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs Play?

The Memphis Grizzlies play their home games at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. FedExForum has been the home to the Grizzlies since it opened in 2004.

The San Antonio Spurs play their home games at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Opening in 2002, Frost Bank Center has also been the home to the world-famous San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.