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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram had 27 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high four blocks, Zion Williamson capped a 29-point night with a game-sealing dunk in the final minute, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-109 on Saturday night for their third straight victory.
Eric Bledsoe scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, when New Orleans fell behind by seven before storming ahead by outscoring the Grizzlies 23-7 during the final seven minutes. Lonzo Ball added 16 points for New Orleans, which broke open a tight game despite playing one night after they pulled out a tight road game in Indiana.
Jonas Valanciunas returned from a five-game absence because of COVID-19 protocols and scored 23 points in 24 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Grizzlies from losing their third straight.
Kyle Anderson scored 21 for Memphis, and Ja Morant had 16 points and nine assists.
After the teams were separated by a single point at halftime and after the third quarter, Memphis appeared to be taking control when Tyus Jones scored six of his eight points during an 11-2 run that put the Grizzlies up 102-95.
Bledsoe then hit two 3s and a driving 10-foot floater during a 10-2 surge that vaulted New Orleans back in front to stay. Bledsoe and Ingram each added 3s inside the last three minutes to help secure the win.
Memphis hit 10 3s in the opening half, including two from long range by Valanciunas, who scored 15 points in his first 11 minutes off the bench.
The Grizzlies led by 12 when Anderson’s driving reverse layup made it 49-37 midway through the second quarter.
New Orleans was still down by 10 with more than three minutes to go in the half, but Ingram hit a 3 and Ball threw down a two-handed, alley-oop dunk on a fast-break feed from Bledsoe, sparking an 11-0 run.
Ingram, who had 17 first-half points, added a pair of mid-range jumpers during the run and Bledsoe’s transition layup briefly gave New Orleans the lead before Anderson’s free throws put Memphis up 61-60 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Power forward Brandon Clarke was scratched because of soreness in his right calf. … Grayson Allen returned from a four-game absence related to COVID-19 protocols and scored eight. … The Grizzlies finished 13 of 39 from 3-point range and shot 44.4% (40 of 90) overall.
Pelicans: New Orleans made 15 3s, five by Ingram and four each by Bledsoe and Ball. … Shot 51.7% (45 of 87). … Coach Stan Van Gundy lost a video replay challenge of a loose-ball foul called against Steven Adams after he and Memphis’ Dillon Brooks were tangled up and both fell to the floor under the basket in the third quarter. … Adams was 0 of 4 on free throws and the Pelicans were 13 of 21 as a team.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Hosts Toronto on Monday night in the first of two home games in three nights.
Pelicans: Hosts Houston on Tuesday night before embarking on a four-game road trip.
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