Zion Williamson scored 25 points, including nine in overtime, and Jeremiah Fears made two pressure free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining as the New Orleans Pelicans stunned the Memphis Grizzlies 135-134 Monday night. The victory was New Orleans’ third straight and handed Memphis its first loss after a 6-0 start that had matched the best opening streak in franchise history.
Memphis nearly escaped behind a spectacular 40-point night from Ty Jerome. Jerome scored nine consecutive points in the final 1:43 of regulation to force overtime, then put Memphis ahead 134-133 with 18.8 seconds left in the extra period. Fears answered at the line, and Jerome’s final 15-foot attempt missed. Karlo Matković matched Williamson with a career-high 25 points for New Orleans, while Derik Queen added 20. Cameron Boozer finished with 18 points for Memphis.
The Pelicans’ turnaround is becoming one of the early season’s more interesting developments. New Orleans opened 0-4, with three of those losses coming by six points or fewer, but has now won three straight. Monday’s victory was different from the previous two because it came on the road against the NBA’s final unbeaten team and required New Orleans to survive Jerome’s late takeover. Williamson supplied the overtime scoring, but Fears delivered the final winning points in a pressure moment that should only add to the rookie guard’s growing confidence.