Pelicans Edge Grizzlies 135-134 in Overtime Thriller

The New Orleans Pelicans went into FedExForum and handed the Memphis Grizzlies their first loss of the season, winning 135-134 in overtime on Monday night. Memphis got a 40-point performance from Ty Jerome, but it wasn't enough to keep the Grizzlies unbeaten.

The game was a track meet from the start, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away. New Orleans, a 5.5-point underdog, kept pace with the previously 6-0 Grizzlies and forced overtime. In the extra period, the Pelicans made the plays they needed to secure the upset. Derik Queen added a little postgame spice with a three-word message after the win, while Isaiah Stewart shed light on a scuffle that broke out during the game.

How Our Premium Pick Fared

We sold subscribers on Memphis as a -220 home favorite, and the Grizzlies came up one point short. That moneyline pick lost. The model's projected 116.3-113.9 scoreline was well off the actual 135-134 final, as both teams blew past the expected scoring output. The 269 combined points landed far above where the model saw the game, and the New Orleans spread call finished without a recorded result on our sheet.

The takeaway is clear: a dominant point differential and a 6-0 start don't guarantee a cover, especially against a motivated underdog. Memphis's defense, which had been allowing just 106.0 points per game, gave up 135. That's a reminder that elite early-season numbers can regress quickly. For future picks, we'll weigh recent defensive form more heavily and be cautious about laying heavy moneyline odds on undefeated teams facing desperate opponents.