The NBA's only undefeated team is undefeated no longer. On Monday night, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 135-134, in overtime at FedExForum in a thrilling Pelicans vs Grizzlies matchup, ending a 6-0 run that matched the longest in team history. Two New Orleans stars and a pair of career-high scores in the final two minutes of the game provided the marching band for a nine-point deficit-laden team as it clawed its way back from the deficit to win its third straight game after going 0-4 to start the season.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Final |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 34 | 25 | 41 | 24 | 11 | 135 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 31 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 10 | 134 |
New Orleans went 3-4 on the season, while Memphis suffered its first loss of the season at 6-1 and still holds the 6-0 record as the best in franchise history.
New Orleans dominated much of the game, extending their lead to 100-95 after a 41-point third quarter. With 2:36 remaining in regulation, A Karlo Matkovic three with 2.36 seconds left in the game gave the Pelicans the lead (124-115), and it appeared as though New Orleans was going to end the league's last unbeaten team. However, Memphis had other intentions. Ty Jerome picked up nine consecutive points in the last 1:43 of regulation to come up with a tying shot at 124-124 to force overtime for the Grizzlies.
The extra period was as close. Jerome kept Memphis alive with eight of the Grizzlies' 10 overtime points, while Zion Williamson matched him point-for-point with 9 of New Orleans' 11 OT points. A Williamson jumper was rimmed out late in the game and Saddiq Bey leveled the score for the Pelicans. Jeremiah Fears found the loose ball with a 135-134 lead and was able to calm down enough to make both free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining to put New Orleans up 135-134. Memphis would get one final shot – a contested jumper from Jerome – but they would fall short at the buzzer to secure the upset.
Memphis came into the night 6-0 as the only undefeated team in the NBA and had the best start in franchise history, dating back to 2014-15. Ty Jerome's 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range would've put the Grizzlies closer to breaking the franchise record, but instead they settled for a win. Rookie Cameron Boozer dished out 18 points and 9 rebounds and added five assists while Memphis hauled in 52% in the field of dreams and 45% from three-point range. The problem was at the other end: The Grizzlies had 16 turnovers to go up against Pelicans' 8, and were outscored in the paint 62-54 by a Pelicans team missing three rotation players.
It is a feat New Orleans was able to achieve without their Dejounte Murray (elected to the league's All-Enjoyment Team but sitting out due to personal reasons) or their injured Yves Missi and Jordan Poole. Zion Williamson, who scored 9 of his 25 points on overtime, led the way with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Karlo Matkovic followed with a career-high 25 points from 9-of-13 field goal percentage and 5-of-8 from three-point range. Derik Queen came off the bench to also score 20 points, grab seven rebounds and disburse five assists, while Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey each tallied 18 points, and Jeremiah Fears added 12 points and a pair of assists. New Orleans was 38% from three as a group, but played much better in ball-handling than Memphis, with just eight turnovers.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
| Zion Williamson | 25 | 11 | 4 | — | — |
| Karlo Matkovic | 25 | — | — | 9-13 | 5-8 |
| Derik Queen (bench) | 20 | 7 | 5 | — | — |
| Trey Murphy III | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| Saddiq Bey | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| Jeremiah Fears | 12 | — | 7 | — | — |
Team totals: 135 PTS, 47 REB, 27 AST, 48-101 FG (48%), 14-37 3PT (38%), 25-30 FT (83%), 8 TO, 8 STL, 3 BLK
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
| Ty Jerome | 40 | — | — | 14-22 | 5-6 |
| Cameron Boozer | 18 | 9 | 5 | — | — |
| Jaylen Wells | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| Isaiah Stewart | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| Cam Spencer (bench) | 13 | — | — | — | — |
| Cedric Coward | 10 | 9 | — | — | — |
Team totals: 134 PTS, 49 REB, 30 AST, 47-91 FG (52%), 18-40 3PT (45%), 22-27 FT (81%), 16 TO, 5 STL, 9 BLK
Minutes and full shooting splits for every player weren't available across sourced recaps as of publish; figures above reflect what was reported in post-game coverage.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Utah Jazz come home to New Orleans to try and extend its winning streak to four. Memphis also stays home, hosting the Indiana Pacers the same night it tries to break its season-long losing streak with its first defeat.
The Memphis hometown advantage was 5.5 points, and dropping the game as the last unbeaten team in the league is instantly a bad sign for how bettors price the Grizzlies' next few games, even after Ty Jerome's 40-point night and a 16-turnover, short-rotation affair against a shorthanded side. Conversely, if New Orleans manages to beat a roadie without the three rotation guys (Murray, Missi, Poole), it's a sign to watch for in their next contest against Utah; if one of those three is back, they are three of the most dominant players in the game. The combined 269 points also beat the majority of pregame totals by a wide margin, as two teams that trade runs in a track-meet pace can blow by a total, no matter how the spread goes. Follow the market's movement of the two teams' odds Wednesday by checking out Sports OKBet's live NBA odds.
A game that hangs in a one-point zone after a buzzer-beater is exciting, but it also serves as a reminder of the amount of randomness that exists within a final score — one that isn't necessarily worth betting on in the next game. Wager amounts should be based on a betting budget; if you ever need a deposit limit or a PAGCOR's responsible gaming tool, there are resources available at the PAGCOR.
Monday's game in Memphis, like any fight between a team that hasn't lost a game and a team that is desperate, was supposed to be a game of chaos. It was a shorthanded New Orleans team that had the answers, including a career game from Karlo Matkovic, two-way night from Zion Williamson and a clutch finish from Jeremiah Fears, to keep Memphis's perfect start alive, but it was Ty Jerome's 40-point night and a blistering fourth quarter comeback that were the closest. The Grizzlies' 6-0 record is history, and the Pelicans are 3-0 on the season with the opener coming up on Wednesday.
New Orleans won 135-134 in overtime at FedExForum on November 2, 2026.
Memphis came into the game with a nine-point lead as the NBA's last unbeaten team, but blew it wide open in the final 2:36 of regulation, allowing Jeremiah Fears to score his two final free throws and give them the victory.
Jerome centered his scoring efforts on a game-high 40 points off 14-of-22 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, but it was not enough to keep Memphis from its first loss of the season.
Utah is in New Orleans on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 and Indiana is in Memphis.
