Williamson's Overtime Surge Ends Grizzlies' Undefeated Season
Zion Williamson scored the first nine points in overtime as New Orleans defeated Memphis 135-134, snapping the Grizzlies' perfect record.
By Michael Bennett ·
The Memphis Grizzlies entered Saturday's game at FedEx Forum as the last undefeated team in the NBA. That status ended when the New Orleans Pelicans took a 135-134 victory in overtime, capping a third straight win for New Orleans.
Zion Williamson dominated the extra period, scoring the Pelicans' first nine points before Jeremiah Fears added two free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining to secure the lead. Williamson finished the night with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, marking his first double-double of the season. Karlo Matkovic contributed a career-high 25 points, going 5-for-8 from deep.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley credited the team's collective effort for maintaining composure during the close contest. “We talk about by committee and it definitely was by committee,” Mosley said. “These guys did an unbelievable job of finding a way to stay poised.” The Pelicans limited themselves to just eight turnovers, a key factor in keeping the game tight until the final seconds.
The game remained competitive through regulation, with the Grizzlies closing the gap after New Orleans took a 124-115 lead with 2:26 left. The Pelicans did not score again in the fourth quarter after that basket, forcing a fifth period. Ty Jerome of Memphis responded with 40 points, including a jumper on the final play of regulation that fell short as Trey Murphy defended.
The lineup change has been a turning point for New Orleans. The team has not lost since starting Fears, Murphy, Williamson, Matkovic, and Herb Jones. Dejounte Murray, who started the first four games, missed his third consecutive contest for personal reasons. He watched the Hawks game in person but flew home from Memphis to attend to family matters, missing the Kings game due to the birth of his son.
Williamson reflected on the trust placed in him by his teammates and coaches during the decisive moments. “My teammates and coaches trusted me and I made it happen,” he said. The Pelicans now look to extend their winning streak to four when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, a team that defeated them 120-119 in the season opener.
