Outside of a few steals and defensive plays, Marcus Smart's first game back with the Memphis Grizzlies was a dud through the first three quarters.

Then, the fourth quarter and overtime happened.

Smart made big shots game-changing steals and passes against the New Orleans Pelicans, but his game-sealing play came when he stepped in front of 284-pound forward Zion Williamson and took a charge with 45 seconds left in overtime.

Ahhhhh!

Memphis was up four points when Smart laid on the hardwood and let out a scream as the Smoothie King Center went silent. The Grizzlies wing's hands were all over the team's 116-115 win on Tuesday night against the Pelicans.

"That's the type of sacrifice we got to have for one another," Smart said to Bally Sports after the game. "You got to put your body on the line for your teammates and they'll do the same for you."

Smart had been sidelined for 17 games by a left foot sprain after averaging 12.5 points and five assists.

The Grizzlies (10-19) continue to look like a different team since star point guard Ja Morant returned from a 25-game suspension. Memphis has won four consecutive games, including three on the road and three against teams currently projected to make the playoffs.

Morant was phenomenal again, finishing with a team-high 31 points and seven assists, but Tuesday's win was about Smart. This was the first time Smart played the role many expected when the Grizzlies acquired him from the Boston Celtics in the offseason. He finished the game with 13 points, five steals and three assists.

Here's how Smart had a major impact in the Grizzlies' win on Tuesday.

Surviving the struggles

Smart was scoreless through the first three quarters while trying to incorporate himself into the offense. He had taken only three shots and had no assists while recording two turnovers.

After Smart got the start, he exited the game midway through the first quarter with Morant. This set coach Taylor Jenkins up to be able to stagger Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. together in stretches, and then have the option of playing Smart and Morant with reserves when those two went to the bench.

The Morant and Smart pairing struggled early in the second quarter as Memphis went from leading 24-19 to trailing 33-31 when Smart went to the bench.

The second half couldn't have been much more different. Memphis trailed 80-66 when Smart entered the game near the end of the third quarter. By the time Smart was subbed out, Memphis had cut the deficit to eight points. That trend continued late in the fourth quarter and in overtime.

Smart had 13 points, three assists, two steals, a block and a charge in the fourth quarter and overtime.

"A little rusty, but it's nothing like playing game basketball, game shape to get the rust off, so I feel great," Smart said.

Not afraid to make plays

How did the Grizzlies cut that deficit? Smart wasn't afraid of the moment. Even after missing his first four 3-point attempts, Smart didn't hesitate when he made back to back 3-pointers early in the fourth as Memphis went from trailing by 14 to eight.

The Grizzlies trailed by four points with less than 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Smart made a nice pass to an open Bane in the corner on a 3-pointer to make it a 103-102 game.

Contagious defensive effort

The Grizzlies finished with 17 blocks and 10 steals. Smart had five steals and one block, tying Xavier Tillman Sr. with a team-high six stocks.

The Grizzlies haven't been known as a team to take a lot charges under Jenkins. In Tuesday's game alone, Bane attempted to take a charge against Williamson and Morant did the same while standing in front of 265-pound Jonas Valanciunas.

Memphis entered Tuesday's game eighth in the NBA in charges per game. After finishing no better than 23rd in each of Jenkins' previous four seasons, it appears Smart is making a difference.

"Man we got some great players here with a great mindset," Smart said. " . . .We're starting to finally catch our rhythm, and we're a team that don't give up."

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Marcus Smart shows two-way ability in first game back with Grizzlies