Saddiq Bey scored 19 of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter to lead the visiting New Orleans Pelicans to a 133-127 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night. The Pelicans, who had lost 14 of their previous 16 games (and three straight), won on the road for just the fourth time.
Trey Murphy III added 32 points and Zion Williamson contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who had lost six consecutive games to the Grizzlies. Memphis surrendered a double-digit lead for the 12th time this season, most in the NBA.
Bey helped the Pelicans rally from eight points down entering the final quarter. He scored 14 points in a three-minute span to allow New Orleans to turn a three-point deficit into a three-point lead (115-112) with 4:25 remaining.
After the Grizzlies fought back to go up 123-122 with 1:35 to go, Williamson completed a three-point play followed closely by a corner 3-pointer from Bey with 58 seconds left for a 128-123 Pelicans lead.
Jaren Jackson Jr. paced Memphis with 26 points and 12 rebounds and Jock Landale added 24 points and 11 boards. Cam Spencer also contributed a double-double with 21 points and 11 assists. GG Jackson finished with 15 points.
The Grizzlies, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games, played without Ja Morant. Morant was ruled out of Friday’s game against the Pelicans with a left elbow sprain. Morant suffered the injury when he hit his elbow on the backboard early in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 124-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Before Friday’s absence, Morant had played back-to-back games — against Orlando in London and against Atlanta — following six consecutive missed appearances with a right calf contusion. Morant, whom the Grizzlies have been entertaining offers for ahead of the Feb. 5 trading deadline, had 23 points and 12 assists against Atlanta.
The Grizzlies used a 10-0 run early in the third quarter to build a 12-point lead (78-66) and went up by 13 (99-86) late in the quarter following a 3-pointer by Vince Williams.
Memphis led 65-60 at the half behind Jackson Jr. and Landale. Jackson Jr. scored 20 of his points in the first half (10 coming from the free throw line) and Landale had 17 of his. The largest Memphis lead of the opening half was eight points (65-57) late in the second quarter.
