Rookie Derik Queen scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists as the New Orleans Pelicans turned a dominant third quarter into a 114-106 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Saddiq Bey added 22 points with eight rebounds, Zion Williamson scored 21 and Herbert Jones chipped in 16 as the Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies for the second time in eight days, marking their third win in four games overall.
The Pelicans trailed by three points at halftime before outscoring the Grizzlies 35-15 in the third quarter when Jose Alvarado made three 3-pointers. Alvarado finished with 11 points.
Memphis was held to 26.1% from the floor in the third quarter and made 1 of its 11 attempts from 3-point range.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who continue to play without both Ja Morant (elbow) and Zach Edey (ankle).
Rookie Cedric Coward and Vince Williams Jr. each scored 13 points for Memphis, which matched a season-high five-game losing streak. The Grizzlies committed 20 turnovers and finished the game shooting 43.5% from the floor compared to 48.9% for the Pelicans.
Memphis, also without Santi Aldama (knee), started the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run to cut New Orleans’ lead to 93-87. The Pelicans responded by going on an 8-3 run to push the lead back into double digits at 101-90.
The Grizzlies closed the gap to within two possessions at 105-100 thanks to a 3-pointer from Cam Spencer with 3:29 left. Memphis was down 109-104 and had the ball after Jones missed a 3, but Jackson missed a pull-up jumper, and Jock Landale was blocked by Williamson on a follow-up layup attempt.
Bey’s dunk with 1:10 remaining gave the Pelicans a 111-104 lead and Jones helped seal the victory on a free throw with 42 seconds left.
The Pelicans’ two wins against the Grizzlies in the past week-plus evened the season series at 2-2. Memphis opened its season with a home win over New Orleans.
