MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The New Orleans Pelicans knocked off the NBA’s last unbeaten team Monday night in Memphis, edging the Grizzlies 135-134 in overtime on two free throws from rookie Jeremiah Fears with 7.3 seconds to go.
The winning trip to the line came out of a scramble. Down a point, Zion Williamson forced up a contested jumper, Saddiq Bey grabbed the rebound and lost the handle, and Fears scooped up the loose ball and drew a foul on Jaylen Wells as he shot. He made both, finishing with 12 points. Ty Jerome had a last chance for Memphis, but his 15-footer at the horn missed.
Williamson led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and he took over the extra period with nine of the team’s 11 overtime points. Karlo Matkovic matched him with a career-best 25. Derik Queen gave New Orleans 20 off the bench with seven rebounds and five assists, while Bey and Trey Murphy III had 18 apiece. The Pelicans hit 25 of 30 free throws.
New Orleans had control most of the night. It was up 100-95 after three quarters and led 124-115 on a Matkovic 3-pointer with 2:36 left. Jerome then scored nine in a row over the final 1:43 to force overtime, and he finished with a game-high 40. Cameron Boozer added 18 for Memphis and Wells scored 16.
The Grizzlies had opened 6-0, tying the best start in franchise history. The Pelicans, who began the season 0-4, have now won three straight, and they did it short-handed: guard Dejounte Murray sat out a third game for personal reasons, and Yves Missi and Jordan Poole were out hurt.
Tempers boiled over at the end, with players from both teams shouting at each other at midcourt until they were pulled apart.
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