Hill-led Pelicans hold off Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Forward Solomon Hill scored a season-high 23 points and the New Orleans Pelicans held off the Memphis Grizzlies for a 95-91 victory Wednesday night at FedExForum in the last game before the All-Star break for both teams.
New Orleans (23-34) had a 16-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. But the Grizzlies twice got the lead down to a point, the last time at 92-91 when Vince Carter (five points) hit a trey with 48.5 seconds left in the game.
Anthony Davis (18 points and 7 rebounds) then hit a jumper with 38.8 seconds left to hike the lead to 94-91.
After guard Jrue Holiday (19 points and seven assists) missed a pair of free throws with 17.7 seconds left, the Grizzlies got another possession. But point guard Mike Conley (17 points and four assists) missed a contested three. Langston Galloway (four points) closed the scoring for the Pelicans with a free throw with 2.3 seconds left.
Forward Alexis Ajinca produced a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Down 77-61, Memphis (34-24) opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to pull within seven at 77-70. Holiday scored the Pelicans' first points of the fourth quarter when he hit a corner three at the 8:20 mark to boost the lead to 80-70.
Power forward Zach Randolph had 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Memphis and center Marc Gasol just missed a triple-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
New Orleans shot 49.3 percent from the floor and hit 8 of 18 from 3-point range for 44.4 percent. The Grizzlies shot 37.1 percent from the field and were 6 of 33 from distance for 18.2 percent.
The Pelicans survived a bad night at the free-throw line, going 13 of 22 for 59.1 percent. They led 50-43 at halftime and Hill led all scorers with 14 points. New Orleans shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half.
NOTES: New Orleans C Anthony Davis entered Wednesday's game fifth in the NBA in scoring (27.9 points), sixth in rebounding (12.0) and tied for first in blocks (2.48). ... The Grizzlies' Vince Carter, at 40 years and 19 days, made 4 of 5 3-pointers Monday night at Brooklyn, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to make at least four in a game. Carter was four days older than Jason Kidd was when he hit four 3-pointers in February of 2013. ... Pelicans F Terrence Jones missed his fourth straight game with a right thumb sprain and F Dante Cunningham missed his second consecutive game (personal reasons). ... Memphis PF Zach Randolph entered Wednesday's game leading the league in double-doubles off the bench with 14.