Grizzlies 116-115 Pelicans (27 Dec, 2023) Game Recap\u060c<\/p>\n
NEW ORLEANS \u2014 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously excited to be back,\u201d Morant said. \u201cBut being able to come back and win<\/a> four games now and carry that momentum into the next game, and the next game, is a big moment for us.\u201d <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Memphis also won on defense, finishing with 17 blocked shots \u2013 five by Xavier Tillman \u2013 and 10 steals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what we're capable of,\u201d Morant said of how his team once again erased a double-digit deficit and closed out a road victory. \u201cWe said to ourselves, we\u2019ve been here before. We were very confident. \u00bb<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Morant scored 34 points that game, capped by his game-winning floater over a crowd of defenders as time expired.<\/p>\n