The New Orleans Pelicans edged out the Memphis Grizzlies in a high-octane 135-134 thriller on Monday night. In a contest defined by relentless offensive fireworks and razor-thin margins, New Orleans managed to withstand a furious battle down to the final buzzer. The one-point victory highlighted the Pelicans' ability to execute under intense pressure during early 2026-27 NBA Regular Season action.

Both offenses operated at full throttle from the opening tip, trading baskets in an electric, fast-paced showcase. Despite facing shorthanded depth with Quinten Post, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small all ruled out, Memphis pushed New Orleans to the absolute brink in an unforgettable clash.

The decisive moment

With the outcome hanging in the balance in the waning seconds, New Orleans clamped down defensively just enough to protect their fragile one-point cushion. After trading leads throughout a chaotic second half, the Pelicans forced a difficult final contested look to deny Memphis a buzzer-beating triumph. That solitary stop sealed the dramatic 135-134 decision as time expired.

By the numbers

  • 135-134: The final score reflecting an extraordinary offensive shootout between the two teams.
  • 1 point: The razor-thin margin separating the squads at the final horn.
  • 269 points: The combined offensive explosion produced across 48 relentless minutes of play.
  • 3 key absences: Memphis was forced to navigate the matchup without Quinten Post, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small.

The collective scoring output demonstrated the incredible tempo maintained by both rosters throughout the night. Generating quality looks on virtually every trip down the floor, New Orleans capitalized on crucial late possessions to escape with the win.

What it means

Surviving such a high-scoring nail-biter provides New Orleans with immense confidence as the 2026-27 NBA Regular Season schedule progresses. Grinding out a road victory when opponents are scoring at a blistering pace reinforces late-game composure and trust under pressure.

For Memphis, the narrow defeat delivers both encouragement and frustration. Despite missing the contributions of Quinten Post, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small in the rotation, the Grizzlies showcased exceptional resilience and offensive firepower.

What to watch next

New Orleans aims to build on this offensive rhythm while tightening their defensive rotations in upcoming games. Meanwhile, Memphis will look to regroup, monitor the status of their injured players, and carry this competitive spirit into their next regular season contest.

Memphis Grizzlies shot chart: every field-goal attempt by court location, final MEM 134, NOP 135
Pelicans 135, Grizzlies 134 (Nov. 2, at home). Ty Jerome led the Grizzlies with 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting. The Grizzlies shot 47-of-91 (51.6%) and 18-of-40 from 3. Every Grizzlies field-goal attempt, by location: Graphic: wire.report
New Orleans Pelicans shot chart: every field-goal attempt by court location, final NOP 135, MEM 134
Pelicans 135, Grizzlies 134 (Nov. 2, on the road). Karlo Matkovic and Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 25 points each. The Pelicans shot 48-of-101 (47.5%) and 14-of-37 from 3. Every Pelicans field-goal attempt, by location: Graphic: wire.report