NBA: The Pelicans beat the Grizzlies and the Mavericks fight to defeat the Clippers

McCollum was 11-of-23 from the field, 7-of-13 from 3-point range and added nine assists as the Pelicans now improve to 8-6, just behind Memphis (9-6) in the Western Conference.

“I just tried to be aggressive, take opportunities,” said McCollum, who scored 22 points in the second half. “I’ve been in the gym a lot trying to work on my fundamentals and my shooting discipline and tonight it held up. I just wanted to focus on the work and it paid off,” he added.

Ja Morant scored 36 points to lead Memphis, but it was when he was benched late in the third quarter that the Pelicans took an 86-85 lead.

New Orleans capitalized on Morant’s absence and went on a 15-5 streak and extended the streak to 19-5 for a 104-91 lead with 6:12 to play. Alvarado struck up five in that stretch and Nance and McCollum each added four.

Nance finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while Alvarado finished with 12 points and six assists.

The Pelicans, one of the worst 3-point shooting clubs in the NBA, were 18 for 38 from beyond the arc.

Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr. made his season debut after undergoing surgery on his right foot following the 2022 playoffs, adding seven points, six rebounds and five blocks.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson missed the game with a contusion to his right foot.

The Grizzlies said today they will be without guard Desmond Bane for two to three weeks with a sprained right toe.

Bane is averaging 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

In Dallas, Slovenian Luka Doncic had 35 points and 11 rebounds to ignite the hosts Mavericks as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-101.

Dorian Finney-Smith’s 3-pointer with 2:50 left raised the level for Dallas, who tied it 93-93 in the fourth quarter.

Then Dwight Powell stole the ball and assisted Reggie Bullock, who hit a three-pointer to put the Mavericks up 96-93 with 2:02 left.

Bullock added another 3-pointer after a Clippers turnover to give Dallas a 99-93 lead with 91 seconds left.

Frenchman Nicolas Batum answered with a 3-pointer for the Clippers, and Paul George added a layup to put the visitors up 99-98 with 51 seconds left.

Doncic then hit a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to extend Dallas’ lead to 102-98.

George layup back with 18 seconds left and Bullock hit just 1 of 2 free throws with 7.3 seconds left to make it 103-100 as the Clippers hit a 3-pointer to tie it.

Instead, the Mavs fouled Batum and he made a free throw and then missed another, but Dallas grabbed the rebound and used the closing seconds to clinch the win.

George led the Clippers with 23 points and Batum had 22 while Finney-Smith added 21 for Dallas.

In other results of the day, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-110, the NY Knicks beat the Utah Jazz 118-111 and the Sacramento Kings beat the Brooklyn Nets 153-121.

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