Grizzlies Can Set Franchise Record With 7-0 Start Against Pelicans

Houston lost to Dallas on Friday night, and by the time the Memphis Grizzlies had finished off Sacramento a day later, they were the last unbeaten team in the NBA. Beat the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum on Monday, 7 p.m. CT, and they are 7-0 for the first time in franchise history.

After the 136-105 win over the Sacramento Kings, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo brought up the 76 games still left on the schedule.

"The moment you start enjoying the moment is the moment you start relaxing," Iisalo said.

The 2014-15 Grizzlies also started 6-0, and went on to win 55 games.

Ty Jerome missed Saturday’s game with upper-back soreness and isn’t listed for Monday. After scoring 45 against Utah, 28 at Golden State, and 31 at Sacramento, he totaled 25 points over his next two games, shooting 25.9%. He still leads Memphis at 25.8 points per game.

His back first landed him on the injury report about an hour before Thursday's game in Portland. He worked out 40 minutes before tip-off and played.

"I'm good," Jerome said afterward, according to The Commercial Appeal.

With him out Saturday, along with Scotty Pippen Jr. and Quinten Post, the Memphis bench scored 81 points.

"Everybody's got to be ready when their number is called," Iisalo explained. "I feel like our guys did exactly that."

Pippen is doubtful for Monday with low back soreness. Post is questionable with a sprained right ankle.

Cam Spencer started for Jerome and had 13 assists with no turnovers. Jerome was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Oct. 26, after the first week of games.

Iisalo said Kris Murray did his job defending De'Andre Hunter and Zach LaVine. Murray took 3 shots in 21 minutes, finishing with 2 points while being a plus-26.

"I never have that feeling that anybody's worried about their stats or who's scoring," Iisalo said. "They all want the best for the team, and that's why we've been performing."

GG Jackson II went 5-of-5 from 3-point range and scored a season-high 21 off the bench.

"Although we are young, we're hungry and we do want to win," Jackson said.

The six wins include a 17-0 closing run at Golden State and Cameron Boozer's first career triple-double at Portland, where the third overall pick had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Boozer then scored a career-high 27 against the Kings.

Entering Sunday, nobody in the league scored more than Memphis' 121.2 points per game. Its 41.6% from 3-point range was first, too.

After a 25-57 season that ended with G League players on 10-day hardship deals filling the roster, Ja Morant was traded to Portland in July. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane were also traded, frustrating some fans.

On Saturday, the building roared, "6-0."

Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley has led New Orleans to a 2-4 record, with the team winning its last two home games: 132-120 over Sacramento on Thursday and 121-99 over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

The four losses all came first, with three occurring by six points or fewer, including a 123-120 opening-night loss to the Indiana Pacers in New Orleans and a 120-119 loss at Utah, and Denver beat them on Oct. 24 and Oct. 28.

Indiana comes to FedExForum on Wednesday. Oklahoma City is in Friday, and the Grizzlies play the Pelicans again Nov. 13 in New Orleans.