4 Takeaways From Grizzlies’ 135-134 Overtime Loss to Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 135-134 in overtime Monday night at FedExForum, ending Memphis' 6-0 start. Ty Jerome scored 40, including nine straight points to force overtime, and missed a 15-foot pull-up for the win with 0.7 seconds left.

New Orleans took 101 shots. Memphis took 91.

The Pelicans got there with 14 offensive rebounds and eight turnovers. The Grizzlies had 11 offensive rebounds and committed 16 turnovers, which New Orleans turned into 21 points.

Jerome said this loss will be felt more than the close wins were, including the one at Golden State.

"I think just the possession game," Jerome said. "Like, we got to rebound the basketball, trim down some turnovers. They got 101, 91. They got 10 more shots than us, and we lose by a possession. I think that's where we start immediately. Just came out sluggish in the first half. I feel like it's on the boards and in the gaps. Transition defense a little bit. I'll say we'll go back and watch it, but stuff like that can't happen. The minute we start to think, like, we won a few, we could relax a little bit — we're not going to beat anybody doing that, not in this league."

"So we all got to look in the mirror and just figure it out," Jerome continued. "And we'll stay together. I guess one thing we'll always do is stay together. But yeah, just be together and be more physical from the jump."

The Pelicans scored 22 second-chance points to Memphis' nine. Eight of those came in the third quarter, when New Orleans went 3-for-3 on second-chance shots and outscored Memphis 41-33.

Zion Williamson missed a turnaround jumper with 11.4 seconds left in overtime and Memphis ahead 134-133. Saddiq Bey grabbed the rebound, and Jaylen Wells fouled Jeremiah Fears, who made both free throws.

Wells said the things Memphis failed to clean up are things the Grizzlies usually do.

"First of all, rebounding," Wells said. "Rebounding, I think that really hurt us, especially at the end of the game. And then as far as our pace, I think it was up and down. We had times where we're running out fast. Sometimes we're getting into our actions too slow. So rebounding, pace, I feel like the first half maybe, and then there was times in the second half where it just felt like they were outworking us, being more physical, and that can happen."

Memphis still finished with 49 rebounds to New Orleans' 47. The Grizzlies grabbed 38 defensive rebounds. Cedric Coward had nine, all on the defensive end, three of them in overtime.

New Orleans scored 11 fast-break points in the first half. Memphis finished with 20 for the game to the Pelicans' 17.

In 37:51, Cameron Boozer put up 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. He made 6-of-7 free throws, including two to open overtime, and blocked a Fears layup with 1:18 left in regulation.

He also committed five fouls and three turnovers. Williamson scored 25, Karlo Matković 25, and Bey 18.

Boozer said Memphis came out with a slow start and let the Pelicans get comfortable. His grade for his own defense against their frontcourt:

"I would say C," Boozer said.

Boozer, the third overall pick in June, had a triple-double in the Oct. 29 win at Portland. He said Memphis has a lot of fight, but it came out a little too late against New Orleans.

"I mean, I definitely haven't [played with a late-game player like him]," Boozer explained. "I think it's special just what Ty's doing this year and what he's been doing since he's got here. And for me, he's definitely different. But it's exciting because he's a great guy to play off of and get a lot of easy looks, just because he draws so much attention. So it's been great so far."

Matković went 9-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from 3-point range. His 3-pointers at 6:50 and 2:36 of the fourth quarter put New Orleans up eight and nine. Herbert Jones made 3-of-7 3-point attempts, two of them in the third quarter.

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said Memphis gave up a lot of transition points in the first half and got better at it as the game went on.

"Well, the short answer is we obviously have our defensive principles that we've tried to design that are as flexible as possible, so they can be used in as many situations," Iisalo said. "And then there's game-to-game adjustments. One of the things Pelicans do really well is they generate paint touches and they generate high-quality rim attempts, and then you have the balance between how much you want to put resources on that and how much you want to take away the threes and maybe look to stay in front."

"And today, for example, if you look at Herb Jones as a career shooter, 3-for-7 is maybe a little bit over his career average," Iisalo continued. "Matković, 5-for-8, I believe he's been in the last two years more or less, like, a 38% three-point shooter off the catch-and-shoot. The looks were good, and you have to make some decisions in the game plan, and then you make also some mistakes. Not everything goes according to the plan in each of those situations, but they had a good shooting night from the outside, those two guys, and we got to live with that."

New Orleans outscored Memphis 62-54 in the paint and shot 14-of-37 from 3-point range.

Two more home games follow this week: the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.