Pelicans Scoop

Grizzlies vs. Pelicans Preview | April 5

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies drop into the Smoothie King Center with an eye toward a future first-round playoff series.

Chris Dodson

Grizzlies vs. Pelicans Preview | April 5
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans Preview | April 5 /
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NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Pelicans (40-39) have no time to dwell on a blowout home loss to the Sacramento Kings. They need just one more win to secure the ninth spot and a home game in the NBA Play-In Tournament. 

The 50-win Memphis Grizzlies (50-29) are coming into the Smoothie King Center with a chance to close the game on the top spot out west to just a single game behind the Denver Nuggets.

New Orleans is still going to be without Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jose Alvarado (tibia). There should be an update on Williamson before the game but he has yet to fully resume unrestricted practices. Alvarado was seen getting some shots up last night but was wearing a boot just last week.

  • When: Wednesday, April 5 @ 7:00 PM CT
  • Where: New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center
  • Watch: Bally Sports NO
  • Listen: 99.5 WRNO

This could be a grind-it-out defensive battle. Even after the loss to the Kings last night, New Orleans still sports the best defensive efficiency over the last 10 games. Memphis is second in points allowed per 100 possessions all season.

It is a new Grit-and-Grind era but the moniker still suits the Grizzlies, who have battled through injuries just as much as the Pelicans this season. Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the first 14 games of the season and Desmond Bane missed 17 games right as Jackson came back. Steven Adams has missed almost three months at this point with a knee injury and Brandon Clarke is out with a torn Achilles. Ja Morant also served an eight-game suspension.

The Grizzlies are playing their best basketball going into the playoffs. Open shots will be hard to come by for Trey Murphy III. The second-year sensation admitted in Tuesday's postgame press conference, "I feel like a lot of teams are figuring us out, the scouting report is out, don't leave me (open). Send doubles at B.I. and CJ and make other people make plays."

Murphy III also said Sacramento's pace gave the Pelicans problems. Well, expect the same look from Memphis, who have averaged 115 points per contest over their last five games by using pace to their advantage. They are averaging 100.8 possessions per game, which is the 9th most in the NBA.

On the other end, the Pelicans have to find a way to make things tough for Luke Kennard without asking too much of Herb Jones. Kennard is leading the NBA in percentage (48.9%) and has been finding even more open looks since joining Memphis (53.1%) at the trade deadline.

Desmond Bane (41.0%) is also better than anyone New Orleans can counter with. Murphy III (40.6%) and McCollum (38.7%) have lower percentages and not near enough volume to make up the difference.

Mar 8, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) wait for play to resume during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

There will be plenty of scoreboard-watching in the Smoothie King Center and it all involves California-based teams. The Clippers (41-38) host the Lakers, guaranteeing that one LA team improves to 42-38 and the other drops to 41-39.  Sacramento is in Dallas and a Mavericks loss would ensure the Pelicans to a postseason spot regardless of other outcomes.

How will Green's squad respond in another test against one of the NBA's top teams? Should the Grizzlies or Kings be worried about a seven-game series or will the Pelicans fall flat and not be taken seriously without Zion Williamson?

 “Not a great game for us,” coach Willie Green said of Tuesday’s defeat. “We’ve got to bounce back quick and get ready for (Wednesday).”

Brandon Ingram had a season-high 7 turnovers against the Kings. The Grizzlies are a below-average group in forced turnovers, at just 12.9 per game. Protecting the ball is always key, but it could be the difference between fans leaving early or staying late. 

With just one more home game remaining in the regular season, this team needs to send a message to the fans as much as the front office. Being sloppy with the basketball again could bring out the boo-birds.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Jonas Valanciunas

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Chris Dodson
CHRIS DODSON

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