Pelicans Late-Game Execution Fails, Loses Again To Grizzlies

New Orleans, LA - The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime, 116-115, in another thrilling game, much like last Tuesday's affair. This was yet another home defeat for the Pelicans. New Orleans has lost its last four home games by a combined six points and three-straight home games overall.

There was a lot of excitement from the fans to start the game, and there was energy from both teams at the beginning. Unfortunately for Pels fans, the team couldn't sustain the momentum in the opening period. New Orleans struggled to shoot early, going 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. They also committed six turnovers, while shooting just 35% from the floor.

Memphis forward Desmond Bane set the tone early for the Grizzlies. He scored 14 opening-quarter points on 5/8 shooting. Zion Williamson was the lead man for the Pels with seven points, and the Pelicans trailed 24-19 heading into the second quarter. The offensive struggles didn't last long for New Orleans. They opened the second quarter on an 8-0 to grab the lead, but then the teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half. Neither team held larger than a six-point lead the rest of the half.

New Orleans defense stiffened up by only allowing 19 second-quarter points for Memphis and holding them to 30% shooting from the floor. Both Zion and Brandon Ingram each scored six points to lead the New Orleans 29-point quarter. CJ McCollum capped off the period with a floater with .5 seconds left that Ja Morant interfered with. The counted basket gave New Orleans a 48-43 halftime advantage.

Brandon Ingram was aggressive in the third quarter, scoring nine points on 3 of 5 shooting to extend the Pels lead to double-digits. Trey Muphy III hit one of his team-high three 3-point shots to give New Orleans its largest lead of the night. After making just 3 of 13 from beyond the arc in the first half, New Orleans shot 3/7 in the third and went into the fourth quarter with an 80-67 lead.

Marcus Smart helped the Grizzlies inch closer with eight points in the first four minutes of the final period. Vince Williams, Jr.'s three-point shot with under four minutes to play cut the Pelicans lead to four at 97-93. A made basket by Zion Williamson off an Ingram assist pushed the lead back to six with under a minute to play. Memphis took advantage of the Pelicans' foul situation by hitting four straight free throws to cut the New Orleans lead to two. New Orleans sputtered down the stretch and after a couple of controversial calls on the Pels, Memphis forward Jaren Jackson, Jr. had a chance to win the game at the free throw line with 0.4 to play.

Jackson, Jr. made the first free throw to tie the game at 103 but missed the second one, and the game went into overtime. The New Orleans offense then went backward in the overtime period, with missed free throws and turnovers. The Pels missed 12 free throws on the evening, squandering another opportunity to win a close game. Ja Morant put an exclamation mark on the game with an alley-oop dunk with ten seconds left to put the game away. Morant finished with a game-high 31 points, and his Grizzlies are now 4-0 since his return from suspension.

Brandon Ingram scored a team-high 24 points for the Pels, but it was not enough as his team again was outrebounded by Memphis, and the Pelicans only had 18 assists on the night. The loss calls into question the Pelicans' late-game execution and playcalling. New Orleans hosts the Utah Jazz on Thursday to see if they can right the ship moving forward.