Pelicans Beat Grizzlies 135-134 in Overtime as Fears Hits Winning Free Throws

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 135-134 in overtime on Monday night at FedExForum in Memphis. Jeremiah Fears made two free throws with 7 seconds left in overtime for the final margin, and Memphis, the only unbeaten team left in the NBA, took its first loss.

Memphis led 134-133 in the final seconds of overtime. Ty Jerome had put the Grizzlies ahead with a driving layup and a free throw with 18 seconds left. Jaylen Wells then fouled Fears, and Fears made both free throws to put New Orleans ahead 135-134. That score held to the end.

How regulation slipped away from Memphis

Memphis entered the game 6-0 and led 62-59 at halftime. New Orleans won the third quarter 41-33 and led 100-95 after three quarters. Memphis trailed by nine points in the fourth quarter, and Jerome scored the last nine points for Memphis in regulation to pull the Grizzlies level. Regulation ended tied 124-124.

The quarter scores show how the game swung. New Orleans scored 34, 25, 41 and 24 points in the four quarters of regulation, and 11 in overtime. Memphis scored 31, 31, 33 and 29, and 10 in overtime.

Jerome finished with 40 points on 14 of 22 shooting. He made 5 of 6 three pointers and 7 of 8 free throws, with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. It was his scoring that kept Memphis in a game New Orleans had controlled for most of the second half.

Williamson and Matkovic lead New Orleans

Zion Williamson scored 25 points with 11 rebounds and 4 assists for New Orleans. Karlo Matkovic also scored 25 points, on 9 of 13 shooting with five three pointers and 6 rebounds.

Derik Queen scored 20 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists off the New Orleans bench. Trey Murphy III scored 18 points and Saddiq Bey scored 18. Fears finished with 12 points and 7 assists to go with the two free throws that won the game.

For Memphis, Cameron Boozer scored 18 points with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Wells scored 16 points, Isaiah Stewart scored 14, and Cam Spencer had 13 points and 7 assists.

The numbers inside the one point game

New Orleans outscored Memphis 62-54 in the paint. The Pelicans committed only 8 turnovers against 16 for Memphis, a gap that mattered in a game decided by one point and one extra period. Memphis won the rebounding count 56-52.

The result moves New Orleans to 3-4. Memphis falls to 6-1. The Grizzlies were the last team in the league without a loss, and they lost that standing at home, in overtime, after fighting back from nine points down in the fourth quarter to force the extra period.