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Grizzlies suffer first loss of the season but not after another Ty Jerome explosion
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- Grizzlies suffer first loss of the season but not after another Ty Jerome explosion
The Memphis Grizzlies suffered their first loss of the season, but only after a tough stand led by guard Ty Jerome .
Memphis lost to the visiting New Orleans Pelicans , 135-134, in overtime on Monday, dropping to 6-1. The narrow defeat spoiled an explosive performance by Jerome, who poured in 40 points to lead the Grizzlies.
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The Grizzlies became the last NBA team to absorb a loss this season while falling one win short of their best start in franchise history.
Jerome taking the charge
Memphis seemed headed to its first loss late in regulation when the Pelicans went up 124-115 with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter. Jerome, however, had other plans, scoring his team's last nine to tie the knot 124-all and send the game to overtime.
In OT, the former Virginia star continued to take the cudgels for the Grizzlies, scoring eight of their 10 points in the extra period, including the go-ahead, and-one basket with 19 seconds left to make it 134-133.
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However, on the ensuing play, Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears was fouled by Jaylen Wells with seven seconds to go and made both free throws to help New Orleans regain the lead, 135-134. Memphis got another chance at victory, but Jerome's pull-up shot as time expired fell short, preserving the Pelicans' win.
Jerome shot 14-of-22 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range against the Pelicans, adding five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 37 minutes.
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Another standout Ty game
Despite the loss, Jerome's standout play this season continued. His scoring against the Pelicans marked the second time in six games this season that he reached the 40-point plateau. He first reached it in the season opener against the Utah Jazz, finishing with 45 points.
Jerome has averaged 28.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. More importantly, he has given a rebuilding Grizzlies squad a reliable go-to player down the stretch.
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"He's a very mentally, extremely strong player, extremely strong player with a ton of confidence. So I don't — if you would tell him that he struggled, he'd say, 'No, I just missed some shots.' So he shakes that off very fast, and he's a very, very good offensive player, and you know that basketball is a game of runs. There will be some ups and downs, but he stays with his process," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said of their leading scorer.
Jerome signed with the Grizzlies last season after playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Memphis stays at home
The Grizzlies will continue with their home assignments in their next two games, facing the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
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Memphis currently holds the second spot in the Western Conference, just half a game behind the Houston Rockets at 7-1.
Had the Grizzlies remained unblemished, they would have surpassed the 2014-15 Memphis team, which also opened the season 6-0, to claim the best start in franchise history.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
