NEW ORLEANS — Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 132-124 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, scoring an impressive 33 points. Ja Morant contributed 25 points but left the game with what appeared to be a minor injury to his right shoulder after a hard screen by Pelicans center Daniel Theis.
Although Morant was temporarily sidelined, the Grizzlies opted not to rule him out entirely, labeling him as doubtful after he went to the locker room for evaluation. He later returned to the bench to support his teammates for the remainder of the game. Jackson took charge of the match, while Desmond Bane added 18 points and Scottie Pippen Jr. scored 13. Additionally, Zach Edey chipped in 14 points.
For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III had a standout performance with 35 points, and CJ McCollum contributed 32. Despite their efforts, New Orleans has fallen into a rough patch, losing nine consecutive games and 18 of their last 19. Theis recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough to turn the tide for the home team.
Observations from the game revealed some key insights. The Grizzlies showcased their offensive prowess, scoring more than 130 points just one night after setting a franchise record with 155 points against Toronto. Notably, Morant was limited to just one point in the second half. On the other hand, the Pelicans, after a disappointing home loss to the Houston Rockets the previous night, displayed more competitive energy but ultimately could not match the Grizzlies’ output. They now sit 0-14 in games without their injured wing star Brandon Ingram and 3-23 without power forward Zion Williamson.
A crucial moment in the game came when the Pelicans were attempting to close a 22-point gap in the third quarter. Jackson’s timely interception of a pass from Murphy ignited an 8-0 scoring run for the Grizzlies, featuring a driving floater by Jackson and a three-pointer from Luke Kennard.
In terms of shooting efficiency, Memphis was strong from beyond the arc, making 17 of 41 attempts (41.5%), while New Orleans struggled at 11 of 38 (28.9%).
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will host the Los Angeles Clippers in their upcoming matchup on Monday night.
