Baskets came pretty cheap in Memphis this shopping holiday, as the Grizzlies coasted past the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 120-109 for their fifth consecutive victory – and first win in Emirates Cup group play – on Black Friday, Nov. 29.
Possession after possession, Memphis found easy points in drives to the basket, or play in the post. Many came at the hands and fleet feet of Ja Morant, who shrugged off the Pelicanโs physical play.
โI just do what I do. I blow by them. If they are playing you physical, that means they are playing tight against you. At that point I am just using my speed. I can play physical as well,โ said Morant.
In 29 minutes of play, he paced the Grizzlies with 27 points on 10-18 shooting. The starter minutes came after Morant sat out the previous game against the Pistons with a knee injury. He also had a game-high seven assists.
The Grizzlies lead the league with 30 assists per game.
โOh, yeah, when the ball’s moving it is about getting everyone involved. You know, it makes it a lot of fun to play with everyone. So, I feel like that’s one of the most dangerous, when everyone’s touching the ball and everyone feels aggressive,โ said Scottie Pippen, Jr.
The reserve guard has helped the Grizzlies build a 13-7 record during Morantโs absence. He is second on the team with a 5.7 average. However, with the recent return of Morant and backup point guard Marcus Smart, his minutes have dwindled.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also found play rewarding the closer he got to the basket, with 23 points on 10-18 shooting, along with eight rebounds. The big man currently leads the Grizzlies with 22.2 points per game.
The Grizzlies went 47-96 from the field, for a 49% average. The Pelicans couldnโt keep up in volume, or efficiency, hitting 38-91 shots for 41.8% overall.
While Morant and Jackson are reliable contributors, the offensive philosophy of the Memphis Grizzlies allows for almost any player to have a breakout night. Tonight, it was reserve forward Santi Aldamaโs turn.
Aldama had 20 points on a near-perfect 8-9 from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range. He also grabbed 6 rebounds and added 4 assists on the night. The third-year power forward is also tops the team with a 7.7 rebounding average.
It was a 16-4 second quarter run – including a 10 point outburst from Aldama – put the game out of reach early.
After entering the half with a 67-56 lead, the Pelicans fought back to within eight points on several occasions, but the early margin proved too much.
โI think our communication can still be better. I thought it got better as the game went on. They were starting to use smaller pick-and-rolls. They started putting guys in double drags, in different positions that we had to account for,โ said Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells. โWe’re fouling too much. I think all four quarters, it seemed like they got the bonus in the first five or six minutes, and we were having to play with a lot of free throws.โ
Wells had 13 points on 5-9 shooting, including 2-4 from the three-point line. He also chipped in six rebounds.
The Pelicans had three players with over 20 points, including a game high 30 points from C.J. McCollum. Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III also scored 21 points apiece. Rookie center Yves Missi had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Three New Orleans starters – Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones – remain out with injuries. The Pelicans fall to 4-16 on the season, including 1-3 in the cup standing.
Grizzlies Zach Edey (ankle), G.G. Jackson (foot) and Vince Williams (ankle) sat the game out with injuries. Edey and Jackson are inching closer to returning to action.
โGG [Jackson II] is progressing well. There’s no really formal update there. With Zach [Edey], I think probably end of the week or middle of next week. We’re starting to get him ramped up a little bit more on the court. Hopefully, it’s on the shorter term,โ said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
Next, the Grizzlies will wrap up a four-game homestand against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday Dec. 1. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. It will be their first matchup of the season.
