Photo Courtesy of Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports
The New Orleans Pelicans entered the court hoping to snap their three-game losing streak on the road and record their fifth straight win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
They did just that, concluding their road trip tonight with a 144-113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Who to thank? Zion Williamson, for putting on a show.
1. Zion is unstoppable
Zion was explosive in the paint – but what’s new? The defenders just couldn’t stop him. The Pelicans scored 70 of their points in the paint – much thanks to Zion – while the Grizzlies had 54 points in the paint.
He's so big that he maintains his control within the paint even if another body – or two – are bumping him. He still finishes strong at the rim, while fearlessly wanting to draw contact, unlike a lot of other players who drive to the basket.
Going into tonight’s game, he already had a great track record against his friend and former AAU teammate Ja Morant’s Grizzlies.
In his last meeting with the Grizzlies on Feb. 6, Zion scored 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting.
Tonight, he put up 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He’s on pace to average 24 points and shoot 60% from the field. That would make him the fourth person ever to do so, after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin McHale.
“Those are legends in the game, so if my name could be in that category, it would mean a lot,” Zion told TNT after the game.
2. Pels played better offensively and defensively
The Pelicans showed up and kept up, finishing with a season high in points. Apart from Zion’s 31 points – Josh Hart scored a season-high 27 points, Brandon Ingram had 22 points, Willy Hernangomez had 14 points and Lonzo Ball added 13 points.
A great moment in the game that showed great team offense was when Eric Bledsoe selflessly assisted Hart’s 3-pointer. Bledsoe had the opportunity to take his own 3-point shot but he gave it to Hart because he recognized it was a better shot. The ability to make those quick choices that are better for the team over yourself are key. That shined through for the Pelicans in tonight’s game.
The Grizzlies started off hot with a lead and then began to lose focus. They made sloppy plays offensively, allowing the Pelicans to force turnovers and get 14 steals as a team. Their defense also slipped up, especially since they simply couldn’t stop Zion. It looked like they made way for him each time he split through the defenders and attacked the rim.
3. Don’t let the loss overshadow Ja’s performance
Ja Morant put up 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting for Memphis, but his team couldn’t overcome the threat that is Zion. Morant's eight assists and seven rebounds also deserve some appreciation.
Ja has really improved his pacing overall, going off pick-and-rolls. He’s out there looking for his teammates and showing more control, compared to last year when he was trying to prove himself and his speed as a rookie.
Here’s Zion admiring Ja’s slam:
Tomorrow, the Pelicans will host the Portland Trail Blazers and the Grizzlies will host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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