Memphis had more scorers than the Pelicans could handle Friday night. Jerami Grant led the way with 22 points, but the help came from throughout the lineup as Memphis matched an NBA record with 10 players in double figures in a 142-111 win at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The Grizzlies improved to 8-4, remained unbeaten through six road games, and evened their NBA Cup record at 1-1 in West Group B. Coming off a loss to home loss to Denver, Memphis recovered after an lead nearly disappeared in the third quarter to take the win, and finished with the best road start in franchise history still intact.
New Orleans used a 10-0 run to get within 80-77 with 6:01 left in the third quarter. Memphis answered with a 15-4 run, and Cam Spencer’s 3-pointer later pushed the advantage to 103-84. The Grizzlies entered the fourth ahead 105-86 and left little room for another comeback.
Spencer credited the defense for getting Memphis moving. Stops and rebounds let the Grizzlies attack before the Pelicans could get set, with early drives into the paint creating opportunities for teammates. “I think it all started with our defense,” Spencer said. “We’re sharing the ball, getting into the paint pretty early, and I think that led to a lot of our great offense tonight.”
Grant had helped build the cushion before halftime, scoring seven points in seven seconds during a 13-0 Memphis run. He made two 3-pointers and a free throw after Zion Williamson was called for an illegal closeout.
Grant finished 7-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and Memphis took a 70-58 lead into the break.
Ty Jerome added 17 points, with Cam Spencer, Cedric Coward, and GG Jackson II scoring 14 apiece. Isaiah Stewart and Cameron Boozer each finished with 12, followed by Jaylen Wells with 11 and Taylor Hendricks and Javon Small with 10 each. Memphis also hurt New Orleans from outside, knocking down 18 of 45 3-point attempts.
Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo saw those scoring opportunities develop from players attacking, drawing help, and finding the open man. The next player then had to read the defense and make his own decision. “I wouldn’t call it unselfish,” he said. “They’re just making the right reads out of the situation.” It was the execution he had missed against Denver.
Memphis still had problems to solve defensively. Saddiq Bey scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made six of his nine 3-point attempts. Williamson added 22 points. Spencer said the Grizzlies adjusted to Bey’s shooting and showed Williamson more bodies in the second half. “I think we were just more connected,” he said.
Iisalo liked the effort behind those adjustments: all five players sprinting back, rotating to stop a drive and then covering for the teammate who had helped. Against New Orleans’ ability to get to the rim, the second rotation mattered as much as the first. “You saw on both ends really nice combinations from all five guys,” he said.
Grant’s night ended with 7:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, after he collided with Herb Jones while driving to the basket. Memphis continued to pull away without its leading scorer, with Wells and Hendricks hitting consecutive 3-pointers to make it 126-103 with 4:09 left.
Even with the win secured, Memphis had reason to keep pursuing points. Point differential factors into NBA Cup tiebreakers, giving the closing possessions a purpose beyond running out the clock. Spencer acknowledged how unusual it felt to keep trying to score with a large lead, but understood the stakes. “We’re trying to get the point differential for the Cup game, so score till the end,” he said.
Small’s late scoring also gave Memphis its 10th player in double figures. Asked whether the rookie knew it at the time, Iisalo said he did not think so. After a difficult season last year, he said, players were more concerned with doing what helped the team win. “That’s one of the beauties of this team,” Iisalo said. “Nobody really thinks that way.”
Brooklyn visits FedExForum Saturday, and Iisalo expects to need that depth again on the second night of a back-to-back. He said the energy has to come from everyone, including the coaches and staff, while Spencer stressed a fast start and the same commitment at both ends.
Memphis has won all six of its road games but is 2-4 at home. After a night when 10 scorers helped put away New Orleans, Spencer’s attention was already on changing that second number. “We got to defend home court,” he said.
