The New Orleans Pelicans‘ struggles deepened Friday night as they fell 120-109 to the Memphis Grizzlies in a historic NBA Cup matchup. Without stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans leaned heavily on CJ McCollum, who poured in 30 points, and a determined Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy, who added 21 points each. Despite their efforts, New Orleans couldn’t keep pace with Memphis’ balanced attack, led by Ja Morant’s 27 points and seven assists.
While the Pelicans clawed their way back to cut a double-digit deficit in the third quarter, a decisive sequence from Jaren Jackson Jr. and a dagger three-pointer from Jake LaRavia pushed the Grizzlies’ lead out of reach. It’s the seventh consecutive loss for New Orleans and their 13th in the past 14 games, leaving the team searching for answers as injuries continue to decimate their lineup.
Playing without four key contributors, including their top two scorers, the Pelicans have shown flashes of resilience but struggled to sustain momentum. Rookie Yves Missi chipped in 16 points off the bench, but New Orleans couldn’t match Memphis’ relentless ball movement and depth. The Grizzlies handed out an impressive 36 assists on 47 field goals, showcasing why they lead the league in assists per game.
For New Orleans, the road ahead remains challenging, with a Sunday visit to Madison Square Garden looming. If the Pelicans are to snap this skid, they’ll need not only more heroics from their backcourt but also reinforcements and a renewed commitment to defensive discipline. Until then, the team faces the tough task of staying competitive in an unforgiving Western Conference.
