Jahlil Okafor stepped in for the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night in absence of the injured Anthony Davis and played the best game of his season yet.
Jahlil Okafor scored his season high of 20 points along with matching his season high of 10 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead the New Orleans win over the Memphis Grizzlies by 105-85 on Monday night.
This was Pelicans first game after they announced Davis will be absent from playing for 1 to 2 weeks due to a sprained finger. Jahlil Okafor filled in for Davis nicely.
Jahlil Okafor said, “My teammates were very supportive of me. They rooted for me; they cheered me on and even talked to me on the bench. They made my job real easy tonight.”
Other players from New Orleans side like Nikola Mirotic and Jrue Holiday both scored 21 points whereas Julius Rendell added in his 20 points for the team. With this win, Pelicans have snapped their two-game losing streak.
As for Memphis Grizzlies, this was their sixth consecutive defeat and 12th out of their last 13 games. The loss was pretty humiliating for the Grizzlies as the Monday’s game was the part of the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. day festivities.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of the Memphis’ defeat, “We are kind of beat. We let one play impact us and that impacts the next one. The next thing you know its one of those things that are happening on a run.”
Point Guard of Memphis Mike Conley who scored 21 points and 8 assists said, “It is really embarrassing on a day like today that we all think of as very special to lose. For us to play as we did, especially in the second half, it is completely unacceptable.”
Grizzlies were led by Marc Gasol who scored 22 points.
Up next, New Orleans Pelicans will play against the Detroit Pistons after completing their five-game road trip on Wednesday night. As for Memphis Grizzlies, they will host a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Related Content
