Grizzlies erase big second-half deficit, top Pelicans
Gilgeous-Alexander goes for 34 points as Thunder quiet the Timberwolves
NEW ORLEANS — Ja Morant scored 31 points and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 116-115 in overtime on Tuesday night to improve to 4-0 since Morant made his season debut in New Orleans a week earlier.
Desmond Bane scored 27, including a 3 in the final minute of regulation that helped Memphis erase a 15-point, second-half deficit. Bane also made what turned out to be a clinching free throw to give the Grizzlies a 4-point lead with 4 seconds left in overtime.
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19 points, redeeming his missed free throw at the end of regulation with a pair of baskets late in overtime that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good.
Morant, who’d been named the Western Conference Player of the Week earlier Tuesday, has averaged 28.8 points since completing a 25-game NBA suspension stemming from his antics with guns on social media. His comeback began with a 34-point performance capped by a game-winning floater as time expired in New Orleans on Dec. 19.
The Grizzlies had gone 6-19 before Morant returned to the lineup.
Zion Williamson had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who also lost a double-digit, second-half lead to Memphis in the previous meeting. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points and blocked four shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 16 points for New Orleans, which dropped its second straight — both at home.
The overtime came after a wild last few seconds on the game clock that took several minutes to complete because of video reviews of foul calls.
THUNDER 129, TIMBERWOLVES 106: In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, Jalen Williams added 21 and Oklahoma City made 18 shots from 3-point range to beat Minnesota.
Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort each added 20 points for the Thunder, who went 18 for 39 (46.2%) on 3s and forced 24 Minnesota turnovers that led to 23 points. Dort was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Anthony Edwards had 25 points to pace Minnesota. Mike Conley added 17 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 16.
MAGIC 127, WIZARDS 119: In Washington, Franz Wagner had 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, rookie Anthony Black scored a career-high 23 points and Orlando defeated Washington.
Paolo Banchero overcame a slow start to finish with 24 points and eight assists and Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence due to a left wrist injury to score 11.
Jordan Poole had 30 points to lead the Wizards, who have lost four of their last five, and Tyus Jones added 22.
Trailing by as many as eight, Washington’s bench came up with 12 points in the first quarter and a 14-4 run tied things at 33 after one.
PACERS 123, ROCKETS 117: In Houston, Tyrese Haliburton had 33 points and 10 assists and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute left to lead Indiana over Houston, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Alperen Sengun led Houston with 30 points and 16 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet added 18 points and nine assists.
Rockets forward Tari Eason tied the game at 33 on the last play of the first quarter by stealing the ball from Andrew Nembhard and finishing with a thunderous breakaway dunk. Eason had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench for Houston.
There were 15 lead changes and six ties in the game.
BULLS118,HAWKS113: In Chicago, Andre Drummond had season highs of 24 points and 25 rebounds in his first start of the season, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and Chicago cooled off Atlanta’s Trae Young somewhat in beating the Hawks.
Young finished with 21 points and 13 assists after tying Oscar Robertson’s record of seven consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 assists.
Drummond made 11 of 13 shots and played 39 minutes. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 19. White missed all seven 3-pointers and the Bulls were 7 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led Atlanta with 22 points. Dejounte Murray finished with 17 after scoring 20 or more in five straight games, and the Hawks lost their third in a row.
JAZZ 130, SPURS 118: In San Antonio, Lauri Markkanen had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Utah overcame a slow start to beat San Antonio, which has lost five straight since snapping a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak.
Jordan Clarkson added 24 points, Collin Sexton had 20 and Walker Kessler scored 11 for Utah.
Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 26 points, Devin Vassell had 22, Jeremy Sochan added 19 and Victor Wembanyama had 15.
The Jazz have won three in a row and six of eight after starting the season 2-7.