Pelicans’ Centers Deliver in Overtime Win Over Grizzlies
On November 2, New Orleans’ Karlo Matkovic and Derik Queen combined for 45 points in a 135-134 overtime win over Memphis, giving the Pelicans a third straight victory and new options at center.
New Orleans beat Memphis 135-134 in overtime on November 2, ending the Grizzlies’ run as the NBA’s only undefeated team and extending the Pelicans’ winning streak to three. Karlo Matkovic and Derik Queen supplied 45 points between them, showing how the team’s center rotation can contribute in different ways while Yves Missi remains out.
Matkovic scored 25 points, shooting 9-for-13 from the field and making five of eight three-point attempts. The Pelicans had entered the game last in the league in both three-point attempts and makes, but finished 14-for-37 against Memphis. Matkovic also grabbed six rebounds and recorded two steals and a block in 29 minutes.
Queen added 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. He made seven of 13 shots, including a three-pointer, and converted five of six free throws, with one turnover. Together, he and Matkovic made 16 of 26 shots and had six assists against two turnovers, giving New Orleans offense from the position without frequent giveaways.
Missi could bring a different balance when he returns, with board work, defending the paint and scoring close to the hoop. Memphis shot 52% and scored 134 points, underscoring the defensive demands on the Pelicans’ centers. Coach Jamahl Mosley will have to weigh those needs against the shooting Matkovic offers and Queen’s passing and scoring, choosing combinations that fit the rest of the lineup and each matchup.