Memphis Grizzlies 'Manhandled' New Orleans Pelicans 132-111
The New Orleans Pelicans were "manhandled" and had no answer for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in a 132-111 loss.
The New Orleans Pelicans were no match for the 2nd place Memphis Grizzlies, falling to the Ja Morant-led squad 132-111. New Orleans, coming off an overtime loss in Denver, were short-handed as Brandon Ingram sat out the game with right hamstring soreness. CJ McCollum scored 32 points in 31 minutes, but it was not enough to keep the game close. Memphis now leads the season series 2-1.
In the post-game press conference, Pelicans head coach Willie Green said he was "disappointed" in his team's effort. Green admitted Memphis "manhandled" his team and was just quicker to the ball the entire night. He chalked up the loss to a lack of preparation rather than a huge talent gap.
"I just felt like they were a step faster than us to pretty much everything," Green explained. "That ownership is on me. I have to do a better job of preparing our team to go out and play against a really good team in Memphis. We were not ready to play tonight."
Mar 8, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis did not need Morant to dominate in the running out to a massive 77-58 halftime lead. Both Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 22 points in a supporting effort. Bane made four three-pointers in the first half alone, and Jackson Jr.'s layup midway through the third quarter gave Memphis their largest lead (36) of the night.
Morant and McCollum provided several highlights, but Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams did the heavy lifting. Adams and Jackson Jr. dominated Jaxson Hayes (4 points) and Jonas Valancuinas (10 pts). Hayes and Valancuinas had only five rebounds combined.
Mar 8, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward-center Larry Nance Jr. (24), guard Jose Alvarado (15), guard Devonte' Graham (4), forward Gary Clark (12) and center-forward Willy Hernangomez (9) walk toward the bench at the end of the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
After a week of morale-lifting wins, Green knows that his team can learn from being on the wrong end of a blowout game.
"We could've been better everywhere. We have to have more resistance than we did tonight. I take full ownership of that. We have to be better. We'll get back to the gym sometime tomorrow and watch some tape and see what we can be better at. But we're not flushing it. We can't flush that. That's not us."
The Pelicans fall to 2-13 when playing without Brandon Ingram. Still fighting for the 10th seed and a playoff spot, New Orleans begins a four-game homestand on Wednesday, Mar. 9, against the Orlando Magic.
