Valanciunas had 20 points and 11 rebounds and
Morant added 12 points and 12 assists as the ninth-place
Grizzlies (35-33) ended a five-game losing streak against the
Pelicans and guaranteed that they will finish no lower than 10th
in the West.
Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 23 points, Kyle Anderson had 14
and Jaren Jackson Jr. 12 for Memphis.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 points, Willy Hernangomez
scored 15, Jaxson Hayes and James Johnson scored 13 each, Naji
Marshall added 12 points and 11 rebounds, Lonzo Ball scored 12
and Eric Bledsoe 11 to lead the short-handed and 11th-place
Pelicans (31-38), who fell to the brink of elimination from
play-in contention.
New Orleans played its third consecutive game without its
injured starting frontcourt -- Zion Williamson (fractured
finger), Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Steven Adams (foot).
Valanciunas went to the bench after committing his fourth foul
with 10:18 left in the third quarter and the Pelicans began the
period with a 15-2 run to take a 74-73 lead.
Anderson's free throw tied the score before New Orleans scored
the next six points, but Morant scored eight straight to tie the
score.
Kira Lewis Jr.'s layup with 15 seconds left gave New Orleans an
88-86 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Hayes' 3-pointer started the fourth-quarter scoring, but
back-to-back baskets by Valanciunas completed an 8-0 run that
gave the Grizzlies a 94-91 lead.
The Pelicans got within one point twice before Valanciunas made
two free throws and a basket to give Memphis a 106-97 lead.
Hayes' 3-pointer pulled New Orleans within 109-107, but Anderson
answered with a 3-pointer for a five-point lead with 1:32 left.
Alexander-Walker made a 3-pointer, but Brooks added a jumper for
a 114-110 lead with 52.3 seconds left. The Pelicans didn't score
again.
--Field Level Media
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