NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kyle Anderson scored 19 points, including a key free throw for a four-point lead in the final seconds for the Grizzlies, who whittled away at an eight-point deficit during the final five minutes to send New Orleans to its fourth loss in 14 home games. Green scored six of his points during that stretch on a jumper, free throws and a dunk that tied it at 101 with 2:35 left.
Julius Randle had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Anthony Davis added 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, and Jrue Holiday had 20 points and 11 assists for the Pelicans. But New Orleans was done in by poor 3-point shooting (7 of 29), 18 turnovers that led to 26 Memphis points and some crucial missed free throws down the stretch.
New Orleans missed only four of 24 free throws, but three of those misses came in the final 4:11, with Holiday missing one and Randle two. The Pelicans did not sink a single field goal during the final five minutes. Davis and E'Twaun Moore both missed 3-point shots inside the final 15 seconds that would have tied it, and Anderson was fouled moments after Moore's miss. Anderson missed his first free throw, but hit the second with 5 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
The game was competitive throughout, with 10 ties and 18 lead changes. Neither team ever held a double-digit lead.
Marc Gasol had 15 point for Memphis, which has won three of four and leads the Southwest Division. Joakim Noah added 13 points in his second game since signing with the Grizzlies, and Mike Conley handed out 10 assists.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Memphis improved to 7-6 on the road. ... The Grizzlies, who led by a single point heading into the final period, improved to 11-2 when leading after three quarters. ... Conley, guarded primarily by Holiday, was held to nine points after scoring between 20 and 37 points in each of his last five games. ... Memphis entered the game allowing opponents to shoot 44.7 percent, which ranked 10th in the NBA. The Grizzlies allowed the Pelicans to shoot 45.2 percent (38 of 84).
Pelicans: F Nikola Mirotic, New Orleans' third-leading scorer, returned from an illness that sidelined him for two games. Although he has started most of this season, he came off the bench against Memphis, playing 20 minutes and scoring only four points on 1-of-6 shooting. ... Solomon Hill scored a season-high 14 points, hitting four of six 3-point attempts. His previous season high for scoring was six points in three different games and he had not scored more than 13 points since April 4, 2017. ... Guard Tim Frazier sank a half-court heave as time expired in the third quarter, cutting Memphis' lead to 85-84. ... New Orleans outscored Memphis in the paint, 58-52.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Pelicans: Visit Detroit on Sunday.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
