Grizzlies 116-115 Pelicans (27 Dec, 2023) Game Recap،
NEW ORLEANS — — Ja Morant let out a cry of triumph as he threw down an alley-oop dunk in overtime that punctuated his third 30-point performance in just the fourth game of his return against the resurgent Memphis Grizzlies.
Morant scored 31 points and the Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 116-115 in overtime Tuesday night to improve to 4-0 since Morant made his debut in the same arena a week earlier.
“Obviously excited to be back,” Morant said. “But being able to come back and win four games now and carry that momentum into the next game, and the next game, is a big moment for us.”
Desmond Bane scored 27 points, including a 3 in the final minute of regulation that helped Memphis erase a 15-point second-half deficit. Bane also made what turned out to be a game-clinching free throw to give the Grizzlies a 4-point lead with 4 seconds left in overtime.
Memphis also won on defense, finishing with 17 blocked shots – five by Xavier Tillman – and 10 steals.
“We know what we're capable of,” Morant said of how his team once again erased a double-digit deficit and closed out a road victory. “We said to ourselves, we’ve been here before. We were very confident. »
Indeed, they had already been there, during Morant's first match on December 19 against the same team and on the same field. The Grizzlies trailed by 24 in the second quarter of this game and trailed by 19 in the second half.
Morant scored 34 points that game, capped by his game-winning floater over a crowd of defenders as time expired.
He's averaging 28.8 points since serving a 25-game NBA suspension due to his gun antics on social media. And earlier Tuesday, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week.
“I'd average 40 if I made a few 3s,” Morant said with a smile after missing six of his 7 attempts from deep. “A lot of credit to my teammates. Obviously, without them on the field, I won't have the gaps that I have, the lanes that I have and the fact that they're always telling me to be aggressive allows me to go out and deliver for us.
The Grizzlies were 6-19 before Morant returned to the lineup.
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19 points, recovering his missed free throw at the end of regulation with a pair of baskets late in overtime that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good. Marcus Smart, returning from a 17-game absence due to a sprained left foot, scored 13 points, highlighted by his transition layup while being fouled by McCollum in extension. He also had five interceptions.
“We’re starting to get into a rhythm and put our team together,” Bane said.
Zion Williamson had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points and blocked four shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 16 points for New Orleans, which lost its second straight – both at home.
“For three and a half quarters, our playing discipline was at a high level,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “As the game started to get a little closer, we got tired…and we started turning the ball over, not executing it as well and we let them get back in the game.
“It’s not one guy, it’s all of us,” Green added. “It hurts to lose games like this. But it's part of it and we have to learn from these moments.”
The overtime came after a dramatic final few seconds of regulation that lasted several minutes due to video reviews of foul calls.
The streak began when Morant narrowly missed a driving scoop with 1.5 seconds remaining. Officials initially called a defensive foul, but changed their decision after a challenge from Green, saying video showed Morant released the ball before contact could be made with his shooting arm.
The officials then called a jump ball, which Memphis won with 0.4 seconds left. The Grizzlies immediately called a timeout to set up an alley-oop attempt for Jackson on an inbounds pass. Jackson was unable to convert, but Valanciunas was booked for a foul while trying to deny Jackson the ball.
Green also challenged that appeal, which was upheld. Jackson made the first free throw to tie it at 103, but the second went off the rim.
“At this point, it’s time to win,” Morant said. “We had 5 more minutes of basketball and we knew we had to get it done.”
FOLLOWING
Grizzlies: Visit Denver Thursday night.
Pelicans: Host Utah on Thursday night.
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