The New Orleans Pelicans returned home to the Smoothie King Center on Sunday, determined to break their losing streak after three consecutive road losses. Despite a valiant effort, they fell just short in a hard-fought 107-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Playing without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, the Pelicans displayed resilience and battled to the final buzzer. In the game’s closing moments, Memphis guard Ja Morant missed one of two free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining, giving the Pelicans a final opportunity. Jose Alvarado’s last-second three-point attempt fell short, and Kelly Olynyk’s follow-up attempt also missed the mark, sealing the Grizzlies’ win.
“I loved our resiliency and our ability to stick together,” said Pelicans head coach Willie Green. “Coming off a tough loss to Houston, traveling, and playing back-to-back against a strong Western Conference opponent, I’m proud of how we approached this game.”
Murphy Shines, Alvarado Dishes Career-High Assists
Trey Murphy stepped up in the absence of Williamson and McCollum, leading the Pelicans with 27 points and five rebounds. Alvarado contributed a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out a career-high 11 assists.
Murphy electrified the crowd early in the game with a highlight-reel alley-oop. With his back to the basket, he leaped high to catch an Alvarado pass from beyond half-court and finished the play with an emphatic reverse slam. That momentum helped the Pelicans take a 64-57 lead into halftime, fueled by strong contributions from role players. Jordan Hawkins and rookie Antonio Reeves each scored nine points in the first half, with Reeves knocking down all three of his three-point attempts off the bench.
Pelicans Falter in the Third, Morant Takes Over Late
Despite their strong first half, the Pelicans struggled in the third quarter, getting outscored 32-15 as Memphis clawed its way back. Morant took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his game-high 32 points to lead the Grizzlies to victory.
This loss marks the end of the Pelicans’ season series against the Grizzlies without a win, mirroring their struggles against the Houston Rockets. Their four-game skid has come against elite Western Conference teams, including losses to the Lakers (second in the West), Rockets (fifth), and Grizzlies (fourth at 40-24).
Pelicans Look to Regroup at Home
“It’s part of the NBA,” said Green. “Especially in the Western Conference, there are no nights off. Every team is physical, every team has something to play for. Our job is to approach each game with the right mindset.”
Rookie center Karlo Matkovic delivered another strong performance, recording his second career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Yves Missi also contributed with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Pelicans (17-48) continue their homestand with matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and the Orlando Magic on Thursday as they seek to bounce back.
“There are still some things we have to clean up,” Green added. “But there’s no argument with the effort.”
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