Herbert Jones has 17 points, Brandon Ingram adds 16 as Pelicans hold on to beat Grizzlies 96-87

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Herbert Jones scored 17 points and Brandon Ingram finished with 16 points including a pair of late buckets as the New Orleans Pelicans held on to defeat Memphis 96-87 on Monday night, sending the Grizzlies to their ninth straight loss.

Zion Williamson finished with 14 points and CJ McCollum added 11 as New Orleans won its second straight. Jones had nine rebounds as New Orleans outrebounded Memphis 49-37.

“They fought us for 48 minutes,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of the Grizzlies and their depleted roster. “We didn’t start well, then we got it going. Came out in the third quarter and we’re playing well, then the wheels fell off.”

While the Pelicans struggled shooting in the fourth, Memphis never could overtake the New Orleans advantage. But things got a bit shaky with three minutes left as the Grizzlies pulled within five a couple of times.

“We just went back to relying on our defense,” Jones said of the fourth quarter. “Continued to play hard. We knew it’s still an NBA team. Still NBA guys. We knew they were going to play hard. We just had to sustain the push.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 22 points, while Vince Williams Jr. and Luke Kennard finished with 12 points apiece. Williams also added nine assists. Yuta Watanabe had 11 points, keying a fourth-quarter Memphis push.

Watanabe was a trade deadline pickup for Memphis. The small forward had started his career with the Grizzlies after going undrafted in 2018. He had a trio of baskets early in the fourth as Memphis cut into the Pelicans’ advantage.

“Yuta’s great. I’m glad he’s back,” Jackson said. “I know how hard he plays. I know his feel for the game is great. … I’m just glad he’s here.”

A 14-point New Orleans lead at halftime…