Pelicans-Grizzlies: New Orleans loses seventh straight game | Pelicans

Willie Green used a four-letter word to describe his team’s 26-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Soft.

“We let a team come to our house and make us look really soft,” Green said. “I told our group that. This can’t happen.”

On Friday, the Pelicans played a competitive game against the Memphis Grizzlies. They stayed within striking distance until the end of the fourth quarter. But the final result – a 120-109 loss to Memphis at the FedEx Forum – was the same as the previous six games the Pelicans have played.

New Orleans (4-16) has lost seven straight games. The Pelicans finished November with a record of 2-13. They enter December with the third-fewest wins in the NBA. They are in last place in the Western Conference.

Dejounte Murray, who called the Pelicans’ performance on Wednesday “disgusting,” had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in his second game back from a left hand injury. It was a better performance for the Pelicans point guard compared to Wednesday, but there were still moments where he looked rusty.

In the first quarter, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant Murray stole the ball before crossing the half of the field. Morant drove to the basket, absorbed a foul from Murray and finished. That was one of four turnovers Murray had in the first quarter.

The Grizzlies took a nine-point lead at halftime. Their depth was a key advantage in the game. Santi Aldama scored 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting off the bench, while Marcus Smart contributed 11 points.

In total, Memphis’ bench scored 46 points. New Orleans’ bench combined for 11 points.

Morant led Memphis with 27 points and seven assists.

CJ McCollum scored a game-high 30 points for New Orleans. That wasn’t enough for the Pelicans as they were missing Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Williamson is out indefinitely with a hamstring strain. Ingram was forced to miss the third straight game due to what the Pelicans reported was soreness in his right calf.

Just 13 months ago, Pelicans coach Willie Green called Williamson and Ingram “the best damn duo in the league” after New Orleans won at Memphis. As the February trade deadline approaches, one may wonder how long they will continue to be teammates. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround, the Pelicans look set to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.

Rookie center Yves Missi was a bright spot for New Orleans as he scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Missi also hit three shots.

The Pelicans took a 1-3 lead in NBA Cup group play. Unlike last year, they will not advance to the knockout rounds.