Minutes prior to tip-off, the Pelicans announced Tyreke Evans was going to miss the contest against the Memphis Grizzlies. Reportedly, he felt soreness in his recently surgically repaired knee in warm-ups, the same knee that was drained Thursday but it didn't prevent him from playing the very next day.
Against a staunch defense and a reserve point guard, Norris Cole, running the show, the Pelicans started off predictably frosty. They had just 8 field goal attempts versus 5 turnovers in the first 8 minutes of the game; however, they weathered the ineptitude with some very good defense.