Jrue Holiday's 36 Points Lead Pelicans to 126-116 Win over Ja Morant, Grizzlies

The New Orleans Pelicans snapped the Memphis Grizzlies' NBA-best eight-game winning streak by topping them 126-116 at FedEx Forum Monday night.

The Pels previously ended the Utah Jazz's 10-game winning streak on Thursday, Jan. 16, behind a career-high 49 points from Brandon Ingram.

Monday's win was led by veteran point guard Jrue Holiday, returning from a seven-game absence caused by a left elbow triceps strain. New Orleans led by as many as 25 and mostly maintained a double-digit lead until Memphis crept back in during garbage time. The Grizzlies cut the deficit to 121-116 with 1:28 remaining in regulation, but it was too late.

Prior to this season starting, this matchup was billed as the first clash between a pair of rookies—the Pelicans' top overall pick Zion Williamson and Memphis' second overall selection Morant. However, Williamson won't make his regular-season debut until Wednesday following arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 21.

Morant, meanwhile, was held to 16 points. The 20-year-old had just three points at halftime.

The Pelicans were also without starting veteran center Derrick Favors (lower back soreness) and reserve center Jahlil Okafor (lower back soreness).

New Orleans improved to 17-27, while Memphis dropped to 20-23.

Notable Performances

NO G Jrue Holiday: 36 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block

NO F Brandon Ingram: 25 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks

NO F Nicolo Melli: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

NO G Lonzo Ball: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals

MEM G Dillon Brooks: 31 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

MEM F Jaren Jackson Jr.: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks

MEM G Ja Morant: 16 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal

MEM C Jonas Valanciunas: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Jrue Holiday's Return Boosts Pelicans to Record-Setting Performance

Holiday was not rusty in the slightest.

The 2009 first-round pick started hot, scoring the Pelicans' first points with the game's first three, and only got hotter. Holiday entered halftime with 19 points, going 5-of-6 from three and leading New Orleans' 15-of-28 three-point efforts in the first half:

Holiday's and the Pelicans' three-point performance entered record-breaking territory in the second half as Holiday notched a career-high seven threes and New Orleans a franchise-record 21:

The 29-year-old All-Star entered this contest leading the Pelicans this season in assists per game (6.5) and steals per game (1.7). Holiday displayed all facets of his game en route to a season-high-tying 36 points against Memphis: 

Holiday's reinsertion into New Orleans' starting five impacted the offense as a whole, too:

With Ingram less than a week removed from his career-high 49 points and Holiday returning from injury in tip-top form, the Pelicans seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time ahead of Williamson's debut Wednesday.

This did not look like the same squad that lost a franchise-worst 13 consecutive games earlier this season, and New Orleans only stands to get better—or at least much more dynamic—with Williamson.

Ja Morant Modified By Jrue Holiday, Pelicans' Defense

Holiday must have heard all the chatter about Morant prior to their clash:

While Holiday erupted offensively, he was just as impressive in shutting down Morant defensively:

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry commented on Holiday's defense after the game, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez: 

"I thought (Holiday) got us off to a great start. More so than anything, his defense on Ja was great. Ja is having a hell of a year, so for Jrue to come back and play against him and lock in on him like that ... the kid is relentless, I'll tell you he just keeps coming at you. He's going to be a terrific player in this league for a long time. I thought Jrue did an outstanding job on him."

Morant was stifled collectively by the Pelicans, too: 

It wasn't just Morant who faltered against New Orleans. The Grizzlies could not match the Pelicans' from deep, going 9-of-33 (27.3 percent) opposite 43.8 percent from the Pelicans. That rendered Memphis outscoring New Orleans 70-36 meaningless. 

That said, Morant has already become the face of this franchise just 43 games into his career. People already expect to consistently see the kind of spectacle the Murray State product put on last week:

This loss is nothing but a blip in the new Morant era and does not take away from what's brewing in Memphis moving forward. If anything, it was more impressive by the Pelicans—the league's 26th-rated defense—than indicative of Morant and the Grizzlies.

What's Next? 

Both teams return to action on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies will begin an away back-to-back against the Boston Celtics, and the Pelicans will begin a three-game home-stand against the San Antonio Spurs.