Memphis's Gritty Win: Defense Wins Championships?
Look, that wasn't a pretty game of basketball. Not by a long shot. But the Memphis Grizzlies, true to their identity, found a way to drag the New Orleans Pelicans into a swamp fight and emerged with a gritty 2-1 victory in March 2026. This wasn't a high-flying shows; it was a proof of defensive will, particularly from the home side.
The score itself tells you the story: 2-1. That's practically unheard of in modern hoops, a throwback to a different era. The first quarter ended 1-0 in favor of Memphis, with Desmond Bane hitting a contested mid-range jumper. New Orleans just couldn't get anything to fall, shooting a dismal 18% from the field in the opening 12 minutes. Brandon Ingram looked particularly frustrated, missing his first four shots.
Thing is, the Pelicans adjusted. Coach Willie Green clearly lit a fire under them during the break. Zion Williamson, who was kept quiet by Jaren Jackson Jr. in the first, started attacking the rim with more aggression. He drew two quick fouls on Jackson in the second quarter, forcing Coach Taylor Jenkins to make an early substitution and bring in veteran Steven Adams. That move paid off, as Adams provided some much-needed rim protection and even grabbed five offensive rebounds in the quarter.
Valanciunas's Missed Opportunity and Memphis's Closeout
The turning point, in my book, came late in the fourth quarter. With the score still locked at 1-1 – CJ McCollum finally got the Pelicans on the board with a three-pointer early in the third – Jonas Valanciunas had a golden opportunity. He grabbed an offensive rebound with 90 seconds left, got fouled, and went to the line for two free throws. He missed both. Those were huge misses, especially for a big man who usually cleans up from the charity stripe, shooting 78% on the season.
And then, fittingly, the Grizzlies sealed it on the defensive end. Ja Morant, who had struggled with his shot all night (2-for-10 from the field), made the decisive play. With 15 seconds remaining and the Pelicans trying to set up a game-winning shot, Morant picked Williamson's pocket near half-court. He then raced down the floor, drew a foul from Herbert Jones, and calmly sank both free throws, putting Memphis up 2-1 with 8 seconds left. That's the kind of clutch play that separates good teams from great ones, even if it was his only real offensive contribution.
From a tactical standpoint, Jenkins deserves credit. He leaned into the defensive identity when the offense sputtered. He started with Jackson guarding Williamson, then switched to Adams when foul trouble hit. He also deployed a zone defense for stretches in the second and third quarters, which clearly disrupted New Orleans' rhythm. The Pelicans, conversely, looked a bit lost against the zone, settling for contested jumpers instead of trying to penetrate and collapse the defense.
Impact on the Playoff Picture
For Memphis, this win is massive. They're now 41-30, holding onto the 6th seed in the Western Conference. Every single win at this stage is crucial, especially against a direct rival like New Orleans. This victory gives them a 3-1 season series advantage over the Pelicans, which could be important for tie-breaking scenarios down the line. Jaren Jackson Jr. was my man of the match, despite the foul trouble. He finished with 1 point (on one free throw), 6 blocks, and 10 rebounds. His defensive presence was simply suffocating.
New Orleans, now 40-32, drops to the 8th seed. They've lost three of their last four, and this kind of low-scoring, grind-it-out game against a Western Conference foe is exactly what they needed to avoid. They shot a pathetic 28% from the field as a team. Valanciunas's missed free throws and the overall lack of offensive cohesion are real concerns heading into the final stretch. They need to figure out how to generate consistent offense when their primary options are being stifled.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies have a tough road trip coming up, starting with a visit to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, followed by the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Those are two very different offensive juggernauts, so Memphis's defense will be tested even further. The Pelicans, meanwhile, head home for a matchup against the struggling Houston Rockets, which should be a chance to get back on track and boost their confidence. If they can't score more than 1 point against Houston, then we've got bigger problems.
My Hot Take on the Pelicans' Offense
Here's the thing: New Orleans needs to stop relying so heavily on individual brilliance. It's great when Williamson can bully his way to the rim or Ingram can hit a tough fadeaway, but against elite defensive teams like Memphis, that strategy falls apart. They need more off-ball movement, more crisp passing, and more plays that create easy looks. Their offensive sets looked stagnant for long stretches, and that's on Coach Green to address. They've got the talent, but the execution against pressure just isn't there consistently enough.
Bold Prediction: Despite this tough loss, the Pelicans will rally and finish the regular season as the 7th seed, largely due to a strong finish from Ingram and McCollum, who will both average over 25 points in their final 10 games.