Grizzlies (29-20), Pelicans (18-29)
New Orleans has beaten Southwest Division rival Dallas twice, Houston once and even took down the dominant San Antonio Spurs during a mid-November matchup. The one divisional foe the Pelicans still can’t solve? Memphis. The Grizzlies improved to 3-0 vs. the Pelicans in head-to-head games Monday, turning anyone’s game through three quarters into a victory behind some clutch shot-making in the final minutes. Memphis shoots the fourth-least three-pointers in the NBA, but the Grizzlies made back-breaking treys to push their lead up to double digits with two-plus minutes left. New Orleans finished 5-2 on its longest homestand of the regular season. The Pelicans will visit San Antonio next on Wednesday.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Vince Carter drained two big three-pointers, the second with just 2:18 left, giving Memphis a 103-92 advantage. The Grizzlies displayed uncanny accuracy from beyond the arc, making nine of 15 attempts (60 percent). The final score was a bit deceptive, because Memphis led just 77-75 after three quarters and the edge was still single digits before the Grizzlies put it away in the final three minutes.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Norris Cole entered Monday averaging 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists as a starter. He improved those numbers nearly across the board, with a season-high 20 points, three rebounds and six assists. Cole shot an excellent 9/15 from the field, including making all three of his three-point attempts.
