Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Match Player Stats.
The New Orleans Pelicans hosted the Memphis Grizzlies at the Smoothie King Center on January 30, 2026, in a fiercely contested NBA regular-season game. The Pelicans overcame a halftime deficit with a dominant third-quarter performance to win 114-106, handing Memphis its fifth consecutive loss and snapping New Orleans’ own losing streak.
The game featured three separate lead changes, a jaw-dropping 35-15 third-quarter burst by New Orleans, and a late Memphis rally that brought the Grizzlies within two possessions before the Pelicans sealed the win.
Game Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Friday, January 30, 2026 |
| Venue | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Attendance | 16,446 |
| Tip-Off Time | 7:30 PM ET |
| Final Score | New Orleans Pelicans 114, Memphis Grizzlies 106 |
| Series Record (2025-26) | Even at 2-2 |
| Game Duration | 2 hours, 7 minutes |
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Memphis Grizzlies | ~30 | ~31 | 15 | ~30 | 106 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | ~27 | ~31 | 35 | ~21 | 114 |
Memphis led by three points at halftime. However, the third quarter turned the contest entirely. New Orleans outscored Memphis 35-15 in the period, the Grizzlies’ second-lowest scoring quarter of the 2025-26 season. Memphis shot just 26.1% from the floor in Q3 and connected on only 1 of 11 three-point attempts during the period.
Key Moments and Game Flow
- Grizzlies held the lead throughout the first quarter.
- At 6:26 in Q2, the Pelicans took their first lead at 45-44 after trailing since 4:56 in Q1.
- Spencer opened the second half with a 3-pointer to give Memphis a 64-58 lead.
- Tied at 68 in Q3 (8:55), followed by a Grizzlies lead at 74-73 before Pelicans took over.
- Jose Alvarado made three 3-pointers in the final 1:48 of Q3, sparking a 14-0 closing run.
- Pelicans led 93-76 heading into Q4.
- Cam Spencer hit a 3-pointer with 3:29 left to bring Memphis within 105-100.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. missed a pull-up jumper and Jock Landale was blocked by Zion Williamson on a follow-up attempt at 109-104.
- Saddiq Bey’s emphatic dunk with 1:10 left gave New Orleans a 111-104 lead.
- Herbert Jones sealed the win on a free throw with 42 seconds remaining.
New Orleans Pelicans Player Stats
Top Performers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | Notable |
| Saddiq Bey | 22 | 8 | 2 | 3 | Attacked rim, key late dunk |
| Derik Queen (Rookie) | 22 | 9 | 7 | – | Near triple-double, dominant paint presence |
| Zion Williamson | 21 | – | – | – | 4th straight 20+ point game |
| Herbert Jones | 16 | – | – | – | Key perimeter scoring |
| Jose Alvarado (bench) | 11 | – | – | – | 3 three-pointers in final 1:48 of Q3 |
| Trey Murphy III | – | – | – | – | Rare poor shooting night |
| Yves Missi | – | – | – | – | Contested key rebounds |
Derik Queen, the Pelicans’ rookie center, was the standout of the night. His 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists came close to a triple-double and showcased the kind of versatility rarely seen from a first-year big man. Alongside Bey and Williamson, Queen gave New Orleans three players each scoring at least 21 points – a remarkable balanced attack.
Zion Williamson’s 21 points extended his streak of 20-plus point performances to four consecutive games, reaffirming his status as a go-to scorer when the Pelicans need production.
Jose Alvarado’s contribution off the bench was arguably the single most impactful play of the game. His three consecutive three-pointers in the final 1:48 of Q3 turned a tight game into a decisive Pelicans advantage.
Memphis Grizzlies Player Stats
Top Performers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Notable |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 16 | – | – | 5 steals, foul trouble limited 2H scoring |
| Cam Spencer | 16 | – | – | 3-pointer with 3:29 left cut deficit to 5 |
| Cedric Coward | 13 | – | – | Contributed off bench |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 13 | – | – | Active scorer throughout |
| Jock Landale | 12 | – | – | Blocked by Williamson on key Q4 attempt |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 11 | – | – | Reliable secondary scoring |
| Jaylen Wells | 10 | – | – | Added floor spacing |
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a productive first half, but foul trouble limited him to just 4 points after the break. He finished with 16 points and an impressive 5 steals. Cam Spencer provided the biggest punch for the Grizzlies’ attempted fourth-quarter comeback, hitting a crucial three-pointer late to cut the deficit to five.
Memphis was without two key contributors for this game – star guard Ja Morant (sprained left elbow, fourth consecutive absence, 25 missed games on the season) and center Zach Edey (ankle injury, averaging 13.6 points and a team-best 11.1 rebounds per game). The dual absences severely impacted Memphis’s offensive rhythm and interior rebounding.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category | Memphis Grizzlies | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Final Score | 106 | 114 |
| Field Goal % | 43.5% | 48.9% |
| 3-Point % (Q3) | 9.1% (1-of-11) | Higher (5 made) |
| Q3 Field Goal % (MEM) | 26.1% | – |
| Turnovers | 20 | – |
| Record After Game | 18-28 | 13-37 |
| Losing Streak | 5 games (season-high) | Ended |
| Win Streak | – | 3 wins in last 4 games |
The 20 turnovers by Memphis were a critical factor in the loss. New Orleans converted those miscues into easy transition points, which amplified the already devastating Q3 scoring run. The Pelicans shot a far more efficient 48.9% from the floor for the game compared to Memphis’s 43.5%.
Injury Report and Inactive Players
Memphis Grizzlies – Inactive
- Ja Morant – Sprained left elbow (missed 25 games in 2025-26, last played January 21 vs. Atlanta)
- Zach Edey – Ankle injury (team-best 11.1 rebounds per game, 13.6 points per game)
- Brandon Clarke – Inactive
- Jahmai Mashack – Inactive
- Santi Aldama – Inactive
- Javon Small – Inactive
New Orleans Pelicans – Inactive
- Trey Alexander – Inactive
- Hunter Dickinson – Inactive
- Bryce McGowens – Inactive
- Dejounte Murray – Inactive
The absence of Morant and Edey was the defining context for Memphis’s performance. Morant’s 19.5 points per game average and Edey’s rebounding dominance left critical voids that the Grizzlies simply could not fill collectively.
Season Context and Standings Impact
| Team | Record After Game | Conference | Streak |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 18-28 | Western Conference | 5-game losing streak (season-high) |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 13-37 | Western Conference | 3 wins in last 4 games |
This game was the second meeting between these two teams within eight days – New Orleans also won the first encounter during that stretch. The result evened the 2025-26 season series at 2-2, with Memphis having opened the season with a home win over the Pelicans.
For New Orleans, the win was a rare bright spot in a very difficult season. With a 13-37 record, the Pelicans remained well outside playoff contention, but back-to-back wins over Memphis demonstrated the team’s competitive spirit even in a rebuilding phase.
For Memphis, the five-game losing streak matched their season-high and exposed the depth of their injury problems. With Morant sidelined indefinitely, the path back to the playoff race becomes increasingly difficult.
Previous Meeting: Pelicans 133, Grizzlies 127 (January 23, 2026)
Just seven days prior, on January 23, 2026, these same teams met at FedExForum in Memphis. The Pelicans won that game 133-127 in another high-scoring affair. That game saw Kam Spencer, Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr., and GG Jackson all active for the Grizzlies. On the Pelicans’ side, Jose Alvarado, Trey Alexander, and Dejounte Murray were all inactive – underlining the dramatic fluctuation in personnel availability for both squads throughout this stretch.
New Orleans’ wins in both January matchups effectively reversed Memphis’s home-court advantage and gave the Pelicans important momentum in the second half of the season.
Player Spotlight: Derik Queen’s Standout Night
Rookie center Derik Queen delivered one of the most complete individual performances of the 2025-26 season for either team. His 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists placed him just one assist shy of a triple-double – an extraordinary statistical line for any player, let alone a first-year NBA center.
Queen’s ability to distribute from the high post, score in the paint, and clean the glass all in the same game reflects the type of two-way, versatile big man that modern NBA teams prize. His season averages coming into this game stood at 12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, along with 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per contest, making this his best performance of the year by a significant margin.
Why the Pelicans Won: Three Key Factors
1. Third-Quarter Dominance
The Pelicans’ 35-15 Q3 outscoring was the decisive factor. Jose Alvarado’s three three-pointers inside the final two minutes of the quarter turned a closely fought game into a 17-point lead heading into Q4. Memphis’s inability to defend the three-point line in that stretch, allowing five made threes in the quarter, directly created the final margin.
2. Balanced Offensive Attack
Three Pelicans players scoring at least 21 points represents exceptional offensive balance. When New Orleans can score 22 from a forward (Bey), 22 from a center (Queen), and 21 from their dynamic power forward (Williamson), opposing defenses simply have no viable option to concentrate help defense on any single player.
3. Turnovers
Memphis’s 20 turnovers were both a product of their injury-depleted roster’s lack of chemistry and New Orleans’s pressure defense. The Pelicans converted these miscues into momentum and easy baskets throughout the second half, amplifying the Q3 surge.
Why the Grizzlies Lost: Three Key Factors
1. Absent Star Power
Ja Morant’s absence for the fourth consecutive game left Memphis without their leading scorer (19.5 PPG). Zach Edey’s ankle injury compounded the problem by removing the team’s best rebounder and a consistent interior scorer. The combination of those two absences left the Grizzlies without the necessary firepower to stay competitive in the third quarter.
2. Q3 Shooting Collapse
Going 1-of-11 from three-point range in Q3 while shooting 26.1% overall from the floor in that quarter was simply not good enough against a motivated Pelicans team playing at home. The Grizzlies’ cold spell handed New Orleans the opportunity they needed.
3. Late-Game Execution
Despite getting within five points with 3:29 remaining, Memphis could not capitalize on New Orleans’s defensive lapses in the closing minutes. Jackson’s missed pull-up and Landale’s blocked layup attempt proved to be the final missed opportunities, and Bey’s dunk ended all hope of a comeback.
Officials and Additional Game Information
Officials: Dannica Baroody, John Goble, Rodney Mott
Attendance: 16,446
Game Duration: 2 hours, 7 minutes
TV/Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Grizzlies vs Pelicans game on January 30, 2026?
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 114-106.
Who were the top scorers in the Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans game?
Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen each led all scorers with 22 points for New Orleans. Zion Williamson added 21. For Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each contributed 16 points.
Did Ja Morant play on January 30, 2026?
No. Ja Morant was inactive for the fourth consecutive game due to a sprained left elbow. He last played on January 21 against Atlanta and has missed 25 games in the 2025-26 season.
What happened in the third quarter?
New Orleans outscored Memphis 35-15, with Jose Alvarado hitting three three-pointers in the final 1:48 of the period. Memphis shot just 26.1% from the floor in Q3, their second-worst scoring quarter of the season.
How did the 2025-26 season series between these teams stand after this game?
The season series was tied 2-2 after this game. Memphis won the first meeting, and New Orleans took the two most recent matchups, both within an eight-day span in late January.
Where was the game played?
The game was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, before an announced crowd of 16,446.
Conclusion
The Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans match on January 30, 2026, delivered everything a basketball fan could ask for: a back-and-forth first half, a stunning momentum shift in the third quarter, and a spirited late comeback attempt that fell just short. Derik Queen’s near triple-double, Alvarado’s clutch three-point barrage, and Zion Williamson’s continued 20-plus point streak collectively drove the Pelicans to a 114-106 victory.
For Memphis, the five-game losing streak highlights the enormous challenge of competing at a high level without Ja Morant and Zach Edey. The Grizzlies’ depth is being tested in a difficult stretch, and until their key players return from injury, results like this are likely to continue.
For New Orleans, this back-to-back win over Memphis is a positive sign despite a difficult overall season record. Queen’s emergence as a reliable two-way weapon gives the Pelicans’ fan base real reasons for optimism heading into the future.
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