New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
FedExForum, Memphis, TN | Game ID: 22300071
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MEM 28 19 23 34 104NOP 25 32 25 29 111
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson lead Pelicans past Grizzlies 111-104 in season opener
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- — CJ McCollum scored 24 points, Zion Williamson added 23 points and seven rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-104 on Wednesday night in the season-opener for both teams.
McCollum was 8 of 16 from the field including 6 of 11 from outside the arc. Williamson scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter to avoid any comeback by Memphis. Brandon Ingram finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Jonas Valanciunas added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
New Orleans coach Willie Green said the production came from all of his players.
“Everybody that came in and touched the floor, their mission was to win their minutes,” Green said of the team approach, adding: “Collectively, our group just came in with the mentality to execute offensively, and everything started with our defense.”
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 31 points, while Marcus Smart had 17 points. Xavier Tillman matched Smart's 17 points and added 12 rebounds.
The game was the first of the 25-game suspension for Grizzles guard Ja Morant , the team's leading scorer last season. He is scheduled to finish the suspension in December. That left Bane to pick up some of the offensive load in Morant's absence.
“One, we've got to get better, but two, it's a long season,” Bane said, adding that the Grizzlies have long season-openers in previous years. “We have to be better, and we will. Obviously, we want to win every game, but we want to build winning habits along the way.”
Morant's absence, along with several injuries across the Memphis frontline had the Grizzlies at a disadvantage. That left Memphis playing small-ball lineups in much of the game.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans are starting the season with key people healthy, particularly Ingram and Williamson, who missed significant parts of last season. That led to a 52-37 New Orleans advantage on the boards. Despite New Orleans committing 21 turnovers, Memphis only converted two fast break points.
“Credit to them,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We couldn't rebound because we were taking the ball out of the net, so we couldn't get out and run.”
New Orleans led 57-47 at halftime, after holding the Grizzlies to 36% shooting. The lead built in the third quarter as the Pelicans benefited from Memphis mistakes and continued poor shooting.
The New Orleans advantage dwindled to 90-81 early in the fourth, but seven quick points took the Pelicans lead back to 16, its largest in the game at the time. Williamson was the key to a run when Memphis got close, coming out and hitting five of his seven shots in the final frame.
“For me, it's going to be a few games getting that in-game flow back,” Williamson said of a poor first half. “No matter how much I work out, train, play pick up, there's nothing like a real NBA game.”
While Green was pleased with the Pelicans performance, like any coach after opening night, he saw plenty of spots for improvement.
“We've got work to do,” he said. “We can improve. We can get better. It's better to teach off a win.”
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrSmTiWi 6 17 +3 6 13 46 3 9 33 0 1 0 1 5 6 5 1 3 1 4
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., Smart, Tillman, Williams
in Bane, Jackson Jr., Smart, Tillman, Williams
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaKeRoSmTi 2 3 -1 1 2 50 0 1 0 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
MEM Bane, Kennard, Roddy, Smart, Tillman
in Kennard, Roddy
out Jackson Jr., Williams
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
KeLaRoRoTi 2 3 -1 1 4 25 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 1
MEM Kennard, LaRavia, Roddy, Rose, Tillman
in LaRavia, Rose
out Bane, Smart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrKeLaRoRo 2 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 3 3 100 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1
MEM Jackson Jr., Kennard, LaRavia, Roddy, Rose
in Jackson Jr.
out Tillman
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrKeRoRoWi 4 5 -8 2 8 25 1 4 25 0 0 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 1 0
MEM Jackson Jr., Kennard, Roddy, Rose, Williams
in Williams
out LaRavia
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaLaSmTiWi 4 5 -6 3 9 33 1 5 20 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 1
MEM Bane, LaRavia, Smart, Tillman, Williams
in Bane, LaRavia, Smart, Tillman
out Jackson Jr., Kennard, Roddy, Rose
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrSmTiWi 2 7 +7 3 3 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 0
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., Smart, Tillman, Williams
in Jackson Jr.
out LaRavia
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrKeSmTi 2 0 -5 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., Kennard, Smart, Tillman
in Kennard
out Williams
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrSmTiWi 6 9 -2 4 11 36 1 4 25 0 0 0 0 5 5 2 1 2 2 2
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., Smart, Tillman, Williams
in Williams
out Kennard
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaKeRoSmTi 3 6 0 3 5 60 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
MEM Bane, Kennard, Roddy, Smart, Tillman
in Kennard, Roddy
out Jackson Jr., Williams
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrLaRoRo 3 8 0 4 7 57 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 3
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., LaRavia, Roddy, Rose
in Jackson Jr., LaRavia, Rose
out Kennard, Smart, Tillman
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrLaRoRoWi 4 11 -4 3 6 50 1 2 50 4 4 100 2 1 3 1 0 0 1 2
MEM Jackson Jr., LaRavia, Roddy, Rose, Williams
in Williams
out Bane
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaRoSmTiWi 2 7 +3 1 3 33 1 3 33 2 2 100 1 2 3 1 0 1 2 0
MEM Bane, Roddy, Smart, Tillman, Williams
in Bane, Smart, Tillman
out Jackson Jr., LaRavia, Rose
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaJrRoSmTi 5 16 +6 6 10 60 2 3 67 4 6 67 0 3 3 3 1 0 1 2
MEM Bane, Jackson Jr., Roddy, Smart, Tillman
in Jackson Jr.
out Williams
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoMcVaWi 6 14 -3 4 9 44 2 3 67 4 4 100 0 5 5 2 0 1 1 3
NOP Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
in Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaInJoJrJr 3 8 +2 3 5 60 0 0 0 2 2 100 0 5 5 2 0 0 2 1
NOP Daniels, Ingram, Jones, Lewis Jr., Nance Jr.
in Daniels, Lewis Jr., Nance Jr.
out McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaJrMcJrWi 2 3 -2 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 4 75 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 1
NOP Daniels, Lewis Jr., McCollum, Nance Jr., Williamson
in McCollum, Williamson
out Ingram, Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaHaMcRyVa 4 13 +8 5 10 50 3 5 60 0 0 0 3 5 8 4 1 1 2 4
NOP Daniels, Hawkins, McCollum, Ryan, Valančiūnas
in Hawkins, Ryan, Valančiūnas
out Lewis Jr., Nance Jr., Williamson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoRyVaWi 2 8 +6 3 4 75 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 4 4 2 0 0 2 1
NOP Ingram, Jones, Ryan, Valančiūnas, Williamson
in Ingram, Jones, Williamson
out Daniels, Hawkins, McCollum
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoMcVaWi 1 3 0 1 3 33 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
NOP Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
in McCollum
out Ryan
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoMcJrWi 3 5 -2 2 4 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 2 0 2 1
NOP Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Nance Jr., Williamson
in Nance Jr.
out Valančiūnas
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoMcVaWi 6 11 +2 5 14 36 1 4 25 0 0 0 2 7 9 2 1 0 3 1
NOP Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
in Valančiūnas
out Nance Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaInJoJrJr 3 6 0 2 5 40 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 0
NOP Daniels, Ingram, Jones, Lewis Jr., Nance Jr.
in Daniels, Lewis Jr., Nance Jr.
out McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaInMcJrWi 1 4 -2 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 1
NOP Daniels, Ingram, McCollum, Nance Jr., Williamson
in McCollum, Williamson
out Jones, Lewis Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InMcJrRyWi 1 2 0 1 2 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0
NOP Ingram, McCollum, Nance Jr., Ryan, Williamson
in Ryan
out Daniels
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaJoMcRyVa 4 15 +4 5 7 71 3 4 75 2 3 67 2 2 4 3 0 2 2 2
NOP Hawkins, Jones, McCollum, Ryan, Valančiūnas
in Hawkins, Jones, Valančiūnas
out Ingram, Nance Jr., Williamson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaInJoJrWi 2 3 0 1 3 33 0 1 0 1 2 50 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0
NOP Daniels, Ingram, Jones, Lewis Jr., Williamson
in Daniels, Ingram, Lewis Jr., Williamson
out Hawkins, McCollum, Ryan, Valančiūnas
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
InJoMcVaWi 4 9 -2 4 9 44 0 2 0 1 1 100 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 3
NOP Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Valančiūnas, Williamson
in McCollum, Valančiūnas
out Daniels, Lewis Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DaInJoMcWi 1 0 -4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
NOP Daniels, Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Williamson
in Daniels
out Valančiūnas
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MEMDB D. Bane
DR D. Roddy
DR D. Rose
JJ J. Jackson Jr.
JL J. LaRavia
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
XT X. Tillman
ZW Z. Williams
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JH J. Hawkins
JV J. Valančiūnas
KL K. Lewis Jr.
LN L. Nance Jr.
MR M. Ryan
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
MEM/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur