The undefeated Memphis Grizzlies are seeking the best start in franchise history on Monday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans, winners of two straight.
Memphis matched the 2014-15 squad’s record with its sixth consecutive win to open the campaign on Saturday with a 136-105 rout of the Sacramento Kings.
Rookie forward Cameron Boozer scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as he continued a sensational start to his NBA career.
The Duke product’s introduction to the pros has included five games with double-figure scoring, four games with at least 10 rebounds and an 18-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
The 19-year-old became the second-youngest player in NBA history to register a triple-double. He was 19 days older than the Bulls’ Josh Giddey, who set the mark in 2022.
Boozer’s strong start coincides with other noteworthy performances fueling Memphis’ opening stretch. The Grizzlies got 45 points from Ty Jerome on Oct. 21 vs. the Utah Jazz, two double-doubles from second-year guard Cedric Coward and four games of multiple 3-pointers from Jaylen Wells.
“I never have that feeling that anybody’s worried about their stats or who’s scoring,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said following the most recent win. “They all want what’s best for the team. That’s why they’re performing.”
New Orleans opened its season with four straight losses, three by six points or fewer.
Since then, the Pelicans have won by double digits over Sacramento and the Atlanta Hawks. New Orleans blasted Atlanta 121-99 at home on Saturday. Saddiq Bey scored 25 points off the bench against his former team.
Jeremiah Fears added 20 points and dished seven assists, while Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each scored 15 points.
Six Pelicans are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Williamson’s 20.7 points per game. Williamson is also leading the NBA with 3.2 steals per game.
“He’s really doing a great job, playing with a lot of effort, instincts and IQ on both ends of the floor,” Bey said of Williamson. “I’ve seen since last year through the summer into now. He’s made a lot of great leaps.”
New Orleans is generating a league-best 13.7 steals per contest while forcing opponents into 17.2 turnovers per game. The takeaways coincide with the arrival of defensive-minded Jamahl Mosley as head coach.
Mosley came to New Orleans from the Orlando Magic, who had the stingiest scoring defense in the league in 2024-25.
“I’ve got to give credit to (Mosley), coach (Dale Osbourne) and (Randy Gregory),” Williamson said. “They tell me every game what they expect to see from me defensively and where they want to be physical. They just push me to be great on that end.”
The Pelicans will try to maintain their defensive intensity against a team that was leading the league in scoring, 3-point shooting and 3s made entering Sunday. Memphis has put up 121.2 points per game while shooting 41.6% from 3-point range and making 16 3s per contest.
–Field Level Media
