Grizzlies (13-27), Pelicans (20-20)
MEMPHIS – Through one half Wednesday, New Orleans looked like it wouldn’t miss its four-time All-Star power forward against struggling Memphis. Then the second half began.
After taking a 61-60 lead into intermission, the Pelicans managed just nine points in the third quarter – by far their lowest scoring output all season in a period – and continued to misfire into the fourth. New Orleans then rallied back to turn it into a nail-biter in crunch time, but couldn’t capitalize on a hot-shooting close to the game by DeMarcus Cousins.
Down a point in the final 10 seconds, Cousins committed a turnover off the dribble, leading to Tyreke Evans making two free throws with 5.