Ja Morant scored 31 points and Jaren Jackson, Jr. had four of his 19 points in overtime as the visiting Memphis Grizzlies improved to 4-0 since Morant’s return by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, 116-115, yesterday (Philippine time).
Desmond Bane added 27 points, Marcus Smart had 13 and Jackson added 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Pelicans for the second time in eight days — the first win coming in Morant’s season debut following a 25-game suspension to open the season.
Brandon Ingram scored 24 points and Zion Williamson had 23 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans.
Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 13 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 16 points, and Dyson Daniels (11 points) and Trey Murphy III (10) were effective off the bench.
The score was tied at 109 before Jackson made consecutive driving layups to give Memphis a four-point lead with 51 seconds left in overtime.
The Grizzlies never surrendered the lead again, with McCollum’s three-pointer as time expired drawing the Pelicans to within one for the final margin.
The Pelicans were trying to increase a one-point lead when they committed a shot-clock violation with 8.5 seconds left in regulation.
After the Grizzlies won a jump ball, Jackson was fouled on an inbounds lob with 0.4 second remaining.
He made the first free throw to tie the score, but missed the second, sending the game to overtime.
McCollum scored five points and Williamson with four as New Orleans increased their five-point halftime lead to nine points early in the third quarter.
Morant had an assist and made a three-pointer and two free throws to help the Grizzles pull within two with 6:26 left in the quarter.
Ingram scored nine points and added an assist during a 19-8 run that increased the Pelicans’ lead to 80-67 at the end of the third quarter.
Smart made consecutive three-pointers to start Memphis’ fourth-quarter scoring, and then added an assist and a layup as the Grizzlies closed within 84-77, less than three minutes into the fourth.
Bane’s three-point play and Vince Williams, Jr.’s three-pointer helped Memphis get within four at 97-93 with 3:34 left.
Bane then made a three-pointer to trim the lead to one with 33.6 seconds left. (Field Level Media / Reuters)