CJ McCollum scored 24 points and all five New Orleans starters scored in double figures as the visiting Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-104 in the season opener for both teams Wednesday night.

McCollum made 8 of 16 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 11 3-point tries. Zion Williamson added 23 points, Brandon Ingram had 19, Herbert Jones contributed 13 and Jonas Valanciunas amassed 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Desmond Bane scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Grizzlies, who played without Ja Morant as he began a 25-game suspension. Former Celtic Marcus Smart scored 17 points in his Memphis debut, and Xavier Tillman added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

New Orleans took control by outscoring the Grizzlies 32-19 in the second quarter to grab a 10-point halftime lead.

The Pelicans increased the gap to 64-51 on an Ingram basket early in the third quarter.

The Grizzlies got as close as eight points, but an Ingram hoop left New Orleans with an 82-70 lead at the end of the third quarter.

A basket from Memphis’ Jake LaRavia started the fourth-quarter scoring, and the Grizzlies got within eight points twice early in the period.

The Pelicans increased the lead to 97-81 on a basket by Valanciunas and maintained a double-digit advantage until the final moments.

The score was tied for the third time at 18 before Smart’s basket and David Roddy’s 3-pointer gave the Grizzlies a five-point lead.

The Pelicans got within one point twice before Bane’s basket gave Memphis a 28-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Grizzlies scored the first five points of the second quarter before Matt Ryan made three 3-pointers during a 16-0 run that gave New Orleans a 41-33 lead.

Smart’s basket ended the run and Ziaire Williams added a basket before the Pelicans expanded the lead to 52-37.

Memphis scored 10 straight points before New Orleans scored the final five points of the second quarter to take 57-47 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media