The Grizzlies defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in a thrilling overtime road victory, giving them a chance to win the wild-card spot to the Knockout Stage of the NBA Cup. Memphis entered this season with a 1-7 record in its first eight NBA Cup games since its inception in 2023, and made it a 1-8 record in its first nine after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers on Halloween night.
That game changed the trajectory of their season, as it was the night Ja Morant's frustration with the coaching staff blew up and led to a one-game suspension.