Grizzlies vs. Pelicans score: Live updates as Zion Williamson, Ja Morant face off in crucial seeding game

Monday evening’s matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies was one of the most anticipated of all the seeding games. Not only was plenty on the line, but it featured the top two picks from last year’s draft, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. For the third time this season, Williamson and the Pelicans got the better of Morant and the Grizzlies, winning 109-99.

After each team started off 0-2 in the bubble, neither wanted to make it 0-3. But the Pelicans, in particular, could not afford to lose. They entered the matchup 3.5 games back of the Grizzlies for the eighth seed, and a loss would have put them in a really tough spot considering there are still multiple teams ahead of them. Memphis, meanwhile, is still in control of the eighth seed, but their advantage is down to 1.5 games after Monday’s defeat.

No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson played in short, five-minute bursts in the first three quarters in accordance with the team’s conditioning plan, but got some extra run in the fourth. Those extra minutes proved to be the difference down the stretch. Williamson scored six straight points late in the fourth to help New Orleans secure the win, and finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists. 

Here are some key takeaways from the game:

Zion is almost back

Zion Williamson had to leave the bubble last month to attend to a family matter and missed about two weeks of practice and scrimmages. As a result, he was well behind the rest of the team’s conditioning plan and was placed on a minutes restriction for the first few games. There’s been some controversy about that, especially after the Pelicans’ first loss, as Williamson sat on the bench while the game slipped away.

On Monday evening, that didn’t happen. While he played his regular short bursts in the first three quarters, coach Alvin Gentry put him back in for the final few minutes, and that proved to be the difference. When he checked back in with 4:29 left, the Pelicans were clinging to a four-point lead. He scored the next six points for the team to push their lead up to eight points with 1:48 to play, and they cruised from there.

Williamson actually had a little bit of trouble finishing at the rim for stretches of this game, but he finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes. While the Pelicans are still being cautious with their star rookie, he doesn’t appear to be too far away from being fully back. 

Playoff implications

The Grizzlies entered the bubble with a 3.5-game lead on multiple teams for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. After Monday night’s loss, that advantage is down to 1.5 games. They’re still in control, but the 0-3 start at Disney World will have them feeling much more nervous than they were a few weeks ago. Especially since their last five games are against the Jazz, Thunder, Raptors, Celtics and Bucks. It’s not going to be easy for them to close this out. 

As for the Pelicans, this was a massive win. If they lost, they would have been 4.5 games behind the Grizzlies, and no longer even within the margin necessary to force a play-in scenario. Instead, that deficit is just 2.5 games, and while they still have a few teams ahead of them, they’re now just one game behind the Spurs for ninth place. If they end up getting into the play-in tournament, or even the playoffs, they’ll have this season-changing win to thank. 

Ingram shines, comes up clutch

Brandon Ingram’s first season in New Orleans has been the best of his career, and he’s a leading contender for Most Improved Player. He showed why against the Grizzlies, putting together yet another strong game with 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. 

Most importantly, though, the Pelicans were able to count on Ingram in the fourth quarter. After letting a double-digit lead slip away, the Pels were in desperate need of some scoring to prevent another bad loss. Ingram stepped up, finishing with 10 of his 24 points in the fourth. 

A quick five-point burst in the middle of the fourth to push their lead up to seven points was crucial to give them a cushion, and his late 3-pointer with just over 90 seconds to play sealed the win. As good as Williamson is, the Pelicans still need a go-to scorer on the perimeter, and Ingram’s performance against the Grizzlies was more proof that he can be that guy.