The Pelicans beat the previously unbeaten Grizzlies 135-134 in overtime after Memphis closed regulation on an 11-0 run. It is a third straight win, and it moves them to 3-4 and a half game behind 10th in the West.
Escape in overtime
New Orleans led 124-115 with 1:43 left in regulation and still needed a second wind. Memphis ran off 11 straight, tied it at 124 and took a 126-124 lead early in overtime. The Pelicans got the last word anyway, 135-134, the first loss for the Grizzlies this season. Sixteen lead changes and eight ties tell you how narrow it was.
The finish
Ty Jerome carried Memphis with 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting, and his driving layup and free throw put the Grizzlies up 134-133 with 18 seconds left. Zion Williamson's turnaround missed, but Saddiq Bey grabbed the rebound. Jaylen Wells fouled Jeremiah Fears with seven seconds left, and Fears made both. Jerome's pullup at the buzzer missed, and Herbert Jones took the rebound.
Who earned it
Williamson gets an A-minus: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 9-of-15 shooting and nine of the 11 points scored in overtime. Karlo Matkovic gets an A for 25 points on 9-of-13, with five threes, in 29 minutes, and a plus-7. Derik Queen was a solid B-plus off the bench with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Fears gets a C-plus: 5-of-17, 0-of-6 from three and four turnovers, but seven assists and the two free throws that decided it.
Plus-minus tells
Jones led the team at plus-9 in 28 minutes, with nine points, a steal and three threes. Bey was the worst at minus-7 in 36 minutes, shooting 7-of-16 for 18 points. Queen was minus-6, and Trey Murphy III was minus-4 across 40 minutes. The starters scored 89 points and the bench 46.
What it buys
The Pelicans started 0-4 and are now 3-4 and 11th. They sit two games behind the sixth-place Spurs. The Jazz arrive Wednesday, and the Pelicans have two days of rest. Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole are both listed with an estimated return of Nov. 4. Yves Missi is listed for Nov. 8. By our count, 68 minutes a game are out with those three. A win over Utah would make four straight.
What was the score of Pelicans vs. Grizzlies?
New Orleans won 135-134 in overtime on Nov. 2. Jeremiah Fears made two free throws with seven seconds left for the final lead.
Where are the Pelicans in the West standings?
They are 3-4 and 11th in the West after three straight wins. They trail 10th place by half a game.
