Pelicans defeat Grizzlies to halt nine-game slide while Valanciunas repeats his three-pointers' record / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points and the host New Orleans Pelicans ended a nine-game losing streak by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 112-101 on Saturday night.

Player of the Game EFF 21 Jonas Valančiūnas Points 15 Accuracy 6-7 Rebounds 9 Assists 3

Brandon Ingram returned from a seven-game absence due to a hip contusion to post 19 points, Herbert Jones scored 17 off the bench, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

In the victorious match, the Lithuanian center repeated his personal record of scored treys, hitting 3 long shots. The last time Valanciunas hit three times from a distance was in 2019 when he converted 3 out of 5 three-pointers against the Brooklyn Nets.

Devonte' Graham added 15 as the Pelicans won for the first time at home and just the second time overall this season.

New Orleans made 14 of 29 3-pointers.

Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Ja Morant had 22 points and 10 assists, former Pelican Steven Adams recorded 15 points and nine rebounds, Desmond Bane added 14 points and Kyle Anderson had 13 off the bench.

They led the Grizzlies, who were coming off a 119-94 home loss to Phoenix in which they trailed by as many as 38 points one night earlier.

The Pelicans led by 21 points three times in the third quarter, the last time coming on a jumper by Graham.

But Anderson scored five points as the Grizzlies closed on a 14-4 run to cut the lead to 83-72 at the end of the period.

Alexander-Walker scored seven quick points as New Orleans increased its lead to 92-76 less than three minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies cut the lead to 13, but Jones answered with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 100-81 lead.

Memphis got within nine, but New Orleans scored the next six. Graham and Valanciunas made consecutive baskets and Jones made two free throws to give New Orleans a 112-97 lead with 2:01 remaining.

New Orleans Pelicans / Schedule

Dallas Mavericks New Orleans Pelicans108-92 New Orleans Pelicans Oklahoma City Thunder100-108 New Orleans Pelicans Brooklyn Nets112-120 New Orleans Pelicans Memphis Grizzlies112-101 Washington Wizards New Orleans PelicansTue00:00 Miami Heat New Orleans PelicansThu00:30 New Orleans Pelicans Los Angeles ClippersSat01:00

Alexander-Walker scored nine points and Graham had five before Ingram made his first field-goal attempt, giving the Pelicans a 17-8 lead.

New Orleans built the lead to 18 points before Williams hit a jumper and Brooks added a 3-pointer to pull Memphis within 35-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Valanciunas, Josh Hart, and Trey Murphy III each made a 3-pointer as the Pelicans took a game-best 50-28 lead.

The Grizzlies pulled within 16 three different times before Murphy made another 3-pointer and New Orleans took a 62-44 halftime lead.

Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker 21 (5/8 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 5/6 FT), Brandon Ingram 19 (6/13 2PT, 4 AST, 4 TO), Herbert Jones 17 (3/4 3PT, 6 REB), Devonte' Graham 15 (6/9 2PT, 4 AST), Jonas Valanciunas 15 (3/3 3PT, 9 REB, 2 BLK).

Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks 23 (6/14 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 5/5 FT, 5 REB), Ja Morant 22 (5/12 2PT, 3/5 3PT, 9 REB, 10 AST), Steven Adams 15 (5/8 2PT, 5/7 FT, 9 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLK), Desmond Bane 14 (4/6 2PT, 2/5 3PT), Kyle Anderson 13 (4/6 2PT).

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