An early season heavyweight fight took place at FedExForum.
the Memphis Grizzlies hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, and the best team in the Western Conference was going to win it all for the Grizzlies. Dillon Brooks was fouled, Ja Morant briefly left the game in the third quarter and Steven Adams was slow to get up after former Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas hit him in the hip during a collision.
None of that was enough to contain the Grizzlies. Morant shone and Adams owned the glass as the Grizzlies delivered the finishing punch in a convincing 116-101 win over the Pelicans.
Morant finished with 32 points and eight assists. Adams scored nine points and recorded a season-high 20 rebounds.
Memphis (22-13) remains No. 1. 3 seed in the West behind the Pelicans (23-13) and Nuggets, but Saturday’s win closed the gap. The Grizzlies have won two of the first three meetings against New Orleans.
Here are some excerpts from the game.
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Grizzlies Overcome Shooting Difficulties
A game after the Grizzlies showed signs of shaking off their shooting struggles, the same problems returned on Saturday night. The Grizzlies shot 4 for 18 on 3-pointers in the first half and went 0-3 in the third quarter. The Pelicans went under ball screens when Morant had the ball. He got several open looks but was unable to make a 3-pointer on his six attempts. Desmond Bane also struggled and made one of his five 3-point attempts as he continues to get back into shape.
3-point struggles didn’t stop the Grizzlies. Morant adjusted and started taking and knocking down mid-range jumpers. Memphis dominated the paint and shot effectively on 2-point shots.
Memphis got a big 3-pointer when Jaren Jackson Jr. scored. scored one when the shot clock ran out early in the fourth quarter to give the Grizzlies a seven-point lead. Until this point. Jackson had missed his first three 3-pointers. He looked up and gave a sigh of relief after dropping the shot.
Wounds change rotation
Santi Aldama did not play due to right ankle pain. He was injured Thursday against the Toronto Raptors and left the game in the third quarter. The Grizzlies coach said the injury was not serious. Ziaire Williams was ruled out of Saturday’s first quarter with right knee pain. Williams was first diagnosed with pain in his right knee during pre-season before it was discovered he had patellar tendonitis.
Roster changes led to a bigger role for John Konchar, and rookie David Roddy returned to the rotation. Konchar scored eight points off the bench.
big boy match
This game was not for the weak. Bodies fell and players groaned. The Grizzlies and Pelicans both emphasize physicality, and that was one of the standout aspects. Adams controlled the glass and had one of the best games of his career on the boards. Several Grizzlies players took hard hits to the chest to stay ahead of the 6-foot-6, 280-pound freight train that is Williamson.
The physique got too strong in the third quarter as the two teams combined for 25 free throw attempts. There were 19 free throw attempts in the first half. Williamson was the biggest beneficiary of the stretch. He had six points before Brooks committed his fourth foul in the third quarter. When Brooks had to put out Williamson, he scored 10 points in the third quarter.
Williamson finished with 20 points on 6-for-16 shooting. The Grizzlies also did a good job of slowing CJ McCollum. He finished with 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Star Brandon Ingram did not play.
And after
The Grizzlies won’t have much time to rest. They will return to action Sunday (7 p.m., Bally Sports South) at FedExForum against the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies are 1-1 against the Kings this season.
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