Grizzlies (11-8), Pelicans (4-14)
New Orleans finally got Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole back on the floor after they’d miss all of the Pelicans’ previous regular season games, but a career performance by Memphis All-Star center Marc Gasol helped spoil the 2015-16 debuts of the guards. Gasol poured in 38 points, enabling the Grizzlies to secure a victory, despite Anthony Davis nearly registering a triple-double at 17 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks. The latter tied Davis’ NBA high. In conjunction with Evans’ return, the Pelicans made two changes to their starting lineup, inserting Evans and sliding in Alexis Ajinca for Omer Asik. In contrast to its recent games, New Orleans began quickly Tuesday, but couldn’t maintain the early strong play after a 38-27 first quarter.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Memphis point guard Mike Conley breezed to the basket for a left-handed layup – the southpaw’s strong hand – giving the Grizzlies a 111-102 edge with 1:22 remaining. The Pelicans led by as many as 14 points in the first half and were in front 65-64 at halftime, but the Grizzlies took over with a 27-20 third quarter and maintained the upper hand in the fourth.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
In his first real NBA game since the April playoffs vs. Golden State, Evans registered a 20-10 game in points and assists, adding five rebounds, over his 31 minutes of action. The point guard also was efficient offensively, going 7-for-12 from the field and 4-for-4 on free throws. “It was great to have Tyreke back,” Alvin Gentry said. “He seemed pretty healthy and ready to go. He brings a lot, because he can create things for himself and other people. I thought he was great considering he hadn’t played a game in six months.”
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
His playing time was hampered greatly by foul trouble, but in an unexpected start, Ajinca managed to score 10 points in 13 minutes. The 7-foot-2 center was made a starter partly in order to create more room for Davis to operate; Asik rarely is an offensive threat beyond a few feet away from the rim. Ajinca again showed his ability to stretch defenses by sinking a pair of long two-point jumpers.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“We’ve got to do a better job defensively and we’ve got to do a better job of rebounding.” – Gentry on the major areas for improvement needed by the Pelicans
“It’s very disappointing. We’re very disappointed with where we are and the record we have so far. But the only thing we can do is dig in and change that ourselves. No one’s going to change it for us.” – Gentry on the season to date
“He made tough shots. Shooting the ball off one leg… just making shots all night. There was nothing you could do; I played great defense on him. It was just better offense.” – Davis on Gasol’s big night
BY THE NUMBERS
52-42: Advantage in points in the paint for Memphis.
6/25: New Orleans shooting from the field after taking a 82-80 lead in the third quarter.
12-8: Grizzlies edge in fast-break points, a surprise given that the Pelicans generally like to play at a much faster pace.