At Smoothie King Center on Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 113-102.

 

The Pelicans excelled with a season-high 18 3-pointers and a 47.4% 3-point shooting percentage, while the Grizzlies struggled with just nine 3-pointers on a 25.7% 3-point shooting percentage.

 

With 30 points and nine rebounds, CJ McCollum led the Pelicans. Larry Nance Jr. and Brandon Ingram ended with 19 points each, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Trey Murphy III scored 13 points, and Jay Alvarado, who came off the bench, added 12 points and six assists.

 

With 36 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, Ja Morant led the Grizzlies. Dillon Brooks scored 19 points, and Brandon Clarke finished with a double of 15 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 7 points, 6 rebounds, and five blocks in his first game of the season, while John Konchar ended with nine points and eight rebounds.

 

After Morant’s 44-foot buzzer-beater to conclude the first quarter, Memphis led New Orleans 35-32. Grizzlies reclaimed the lead 60-59 at the end of first half thanks to 24 points from Morant and 13 from Clarke despite a 24-9 Pelicans run.

 

At the end of the third quarter, New Orleans was in the lead 89-87 after 12 ties and ten lead changes. Pelicans took a 104-91 lead, their biggest of the night, with 6:12 remaining in the contest after extending their 22-9 run into the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies’ offense stalled in the final 12 minutes, shooting only 23.3% from the field and 0 for ten from 3-point range.