Memphis - The New Orleans Pelicans are fighting for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, while the Memphis Grizzlies are in a position to gain a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
How the Pelicans and Grizzlies have fared when they have been without their star player this season is one reason why there is such a gap between rivals in the Southwest Division.
Before Tuesday, the Pelicans were 2-12 without Brandon Ingram in the lineup. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, were 12-2 without Ja Morant.
Ingram missed Tuesday's match due to pain in his right hamstring. Without him, the Pelicans fell short again, as they suffered a 132–111 defeat to the Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum.
During their four-game winning streak after the All-Star break, the Pelicans made a stingy defense. But this week, he has shown signs of slippage in continuous losses. New Orleans allowed Memphis to convert 16 3-pointers and corral 15 offensive rebounds.
By halftime, the Grizzlies had amassed 77 points - five more points than the Pelicans had surrendered in any half this season before Tuesday's game.
"I felt like they were one step faster than us for everything," said Pelicans coach Willie Greene. That ownership is on me. I have to do a better job of preparing my team to go out and play against a really good team in Memphis. We weren't ready to play tonight."
Morant scored 24 points and provided eight assists. But it was his teammate on the backcourt, Desmond Bain, who did most of the damage against New Orleans. Bane converted 5 of 9 3-point shots into 22 points on his way out. Bane linked up with four triples in the first half alone.
The Grizzlies took a 20-point lead in the first quarter. Unlike Sunday's game against the Nuggets, the Pelicans didn't make a comeback in them. They were able to cut it into the single digits at various points - thanks in large part to CJ McCollum, who put up a shot-making clincher - but didn't get enough stops.
Jaren Jackson Jr. won his matchup against Jackson Hayes of New Orleans, outscoring him 22–2. Memphis rookie Ziyar Williams also scored with 16 points. Williams was one of six Memphis players who hit a 3-pointer.
The Grizzlies converted 11 3-pointers in the first half. They had a lead of 19 points at the break, which they extended to 36 points in the second half.
"We have to figure it out," said Devonte Graham, who scored 12 points off the bench. "We know we can play defense at a high level. We just have to bring him in every night. You can't worry about the offense. We have to stop. That's how we get fuel, and that's how we go about it." I have to go."
McCallum led with 32 points shooting 21 of 13 for New Orleans. He cast 25 of them before halftime, but that was of little help.
With 1:26 remaining in the third quarter, Morant threw an alley, a slam that extended the Grizzlies' lead to 32 points. In the fourth quarter, Pelicans coach Willie Green pulled most of his starters. The Grizzlies scored 42 fast-break points.
"We could have been better everywhere," Green said. "We have to put up more resistance than we can tonight. I take full ownership of it. We have to get better."
Pelicans will need to be regrouped quickly. They will face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in what will be the start of a three-game home stand.
"We'll go to the gym sometime tomorrow and watch some tapes and see what we can get better at," Green said. "But we're not flushing it. We can't flush it. That's not us."