Pelicans 99, Grizzlies 84
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- In every game this season the Memphis Grizzlies have trailed after three quarters. Twice -- at home against Detroit and winless Boston -- they rallied and won.
But Wednesday night at FedExForum the Grizzlies weren't even in the same ZIP code as the New Orleans Pelicans, who led by 22 points going into the fourth quarter and won 99-84.
The young Pelicans (2-3) got a strong performance from 20-year-old power forward Anthony Davis, who finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
Guard Eric Gordon led New Orleans with 19 points, and guard Tyreke Evans scored 16 off the bench. New Orleans shot 48.7 percent (38 of 78) from the field and had a 39-29 advantage in rebounds.
Memphis point guard Mike Conley had a game-high 26 points, but he didn't get much help and he went down hard with 8:10 left in the game and did not return.
Center Marc Gasol (11 points) was the only other Memphis player in double figures.
Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph left the arena in the first half to be with his fiancée, who was in labor. Without him, the Grizzlies (2-3) tried to contain Davis with forwards Ed Davis and Jon Leuer. It didn't work.
Through their first four games, the Grizzlies were averaging 32.3 points in the fourth quarter, the second-highest average in the league. They scored 27 Wednesday and had a late run that got them within nine, 93-84, with 2:32 to play when swingman Mike Miller hit a 3-pointer.
But the Pelicans led by as many as 29 in the final frame and the hill was too steep. Memphis is now 0-3 against Southwest Division opponents.
New Orleans owned a 49-39 advantage at halftime and was shooting 50 percent from the floor (70 percent in the first quarter).
Conley had 16 points at halftime and was routinely getting in the lane for layups.
The Pelicans held a 21-14 rebounding edge, but the Grizzlies outscored them in the paint 30-14 in the first half and 50-32 overall.
NOTES: Pelicans PF Anthony Davis was second in the NBA in blocks (4.25 per game) through four games, and New Orleans was holding opponents to a league-best 34.0 points in the paint. Davis also was averaging 22.0 points per game and 12.0 rebounds. Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger likes the 20-year-old's whole game. "He's special. He's got a great career ahead of him," Joerger said. ... New Orleans forwards Ryan Anderson (broken toe) and Darius Miller (injured left foot) were inactive. ... Through four games, Memphis SG Tony Allen was tied for fourth in the league with 3.0 steals per game. "You can't think about who he is as a defender," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said, referring to opposing offensive players. "You've got to play your game. When you're playing against a guy like Tony Allen, he's going to try and take something away from you."
