In their lowest-scoring game of the season, with a final score of 96-87, the Memphis Grizzlies extended their losing streak to a season-high nine games Monday night.
The Grizzlies were able to hold the Pelicans to just 35 points in the second half, but ultimately that would not be enough to overcome being down 25 points.
It was the final game of the season series, where the road team won all four meetings.
Free throws and offensive rebounds were a foreign concept to the Grizzlies in this matchup. Neither team had a particularly good night offensively, evident from the 24-point fourth quarter. That’s 24 total points, between both teams.
We did see the return of an old friend, Yuta Watanabe, who spent his first two seasons in Memphis and was acquired last week by the Grizzlies from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal that sent David Roddy to the Suns and Royce O’Neale to the Nets. Watanabe scored 11 points in his first appearance back with the Grizzlies.
G.G. Jackson was unavailable Monday night, inactive due to an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Before the game, Vince Williams Jr. was named as an injury replacement for the 2024 Panini Rising Stars game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The emergence of Vince Williams Jr. has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Grizzlies. He finished the night with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and a career-high 9 assists.
Power forward Lamar Stevens made his Grizzlies debut Monday night, the first game he has played for Memphis since being acquired from the Celtics in the deal that sent Xavier Tillman Sr. to Boston. Stevens put up 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks against the Pelicans.
Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out the night with a game-high 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Luke Kennard added 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist from the bench.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will be at home for seven of their next eight games, starting with a Valentine’s Day matchup against the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
