Jerome Scores 40 as Grizzlies Fall in OT
Memphis drops a 135-134 overtime decision to the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum after entering the game at 6-1.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Ty Jerome scored 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting, but the Memphis Grizzlies lost 135-134 in overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday at FedExForum. The defeat snapped a 6-1 start for Memphis.
Why it matters
The loss was decided by a single point, leaving the Grizzlies with a narrow setback despite one of the most productive offensive performances of the early season. Jerome's output keeps Memphis's backcourt rotation under scrutiny as the team builds its record.
Jerome's 40-point night came on 14-of-22 shooting and 5-of-6 from deep, well above his season average of 28.2 points per game. The stub does not report how his output will translate across the next several games.
The players
Ty Jerome
Jerome is a guard who won a national title with Virginia in 2019, had a strong run with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2025, and signed a three-year, $28 million contract with Memphis.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are the Memphis NBA franchise that entered the game with a 6-1 record and is coached by Tuomas Iisalo.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are the New Orleans NBA franchise that earned the overtime win over Memphis on Monday.
The details
Jerome played 37 minutes and added five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the 135-134 overtime loss to New Orleans. The Grizzlies are led by coach Tuomas Iisalo, and the game was the team's first defeat after opening the season 6-1.
Timeline
Monday: Grizzlies lose 135-134 in overtime to the Pelicans at FedExForum.
Wednesday: Grizzlies face the Indiana Pacers.
Season Trajectory
Jerome's breakout places Memphis in the early-season conversation about perimeter scoring, following the offensive template Steve Nash built with the Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies' 6-1 start before this loss shows how much their guard production matters to the team's competitive standing in the West.
Fantasy managers who rostered Jerome saw a 40-point, five-assist, two-steal line that carries significant value for the rest of the week. The Grizzlies' next game against the Pacers on Wednesday will show whether his scoring holds beyond this overtime performance.
The takeaway
Jerome's 40-point night shows how quickly a single guard can carry a team's offense, but Memphis still lost by one point in overtime. Tracking his usage in the next few games will indicate whether the Grizzlies can sustain their early-season scoring.
What happens next
The Grizzlies face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, the next scheduled test for a team that has now dropped its first game of the season.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Basketball coverage of the Memphis Grizzlies.
