Pelicans
Jazz Hold Off Pelicans 120-119 as Jackson and George Lead Fourth-Quarter Push
Utah beat New Orleans 120-119 at Delta Center on Oct. 23 for its first win of the season, moving to 1-2. The Pelicans, who scored 38 in the third quarter to erase a deficit, fell to 0-3 and have lost three straight.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 11 min ago01The story of the nightThe turning pointUtah led 62-52 at halftime after scoring 31 in each of the first two quarters.
Utah led 62-52 at halftime after scoring 31 in each of the first two quarters. The Pelicans answered with 38 points in the third, against 24 for the Jazz, and went into the fourth up 90-86. The Jazz then outscored New Orleans 34-29 in the final period to win by one. Utah's biggest lead was 15 points, New Orleans' was five. The lead changed hands six times. The Pelicans shot 50.6 percent for the game (44 of 87), and the Jazz shot 48.8 percent (41 of 84). The margin came down to the last quarter and a one-point final score.
02Top performersJaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Utah with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-15 shooting, and he made 8 of 10 free throws. He also blocked three shots. Keyonte George scored 19 with 10 assists, though he turned the ball over six times. Jaxson Hayes gave the Jazz 17 points off the bench on 7-of-8 shooting and had a plus-9 rating in 25.9 minutes. For New Orleans, Zion Williamson scored 23 on 8-of-12 shooting and made 7 of 8 free throws. Saddiq Bey added 20 off the bench, hitting 3 of 5 threes. Dejounte Murray had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
03Where it was wonThe Jazz won the three-point line and the turnover game on points.
The Jazz won the three-point line and the turnover game on points. Utah made 13 of 35 threes. New Orleans made 8 of 26. That gap is 15 points from deep. The Jazz also scored 27 points off turnovers to the Pelicans' 14, even though Utah committed 18 turnovers to New Orleans' 15. Utah had 31 assists on 41 made baskets. The Pelicans had 18 on 44. New Orleans won the paint, 64-54, and the fast-break count, 12-7. It also had the better bench, 58 points to 40, and 15 steals to Utah's four. The Jazz outrebounded the Pelicans 51-48 and went to the line six more times, making 25 of 33 free throws to New Orleans' 23 of 27.
04What it means for UtahThe Jazz got their first win after opening 0-2, and they are 1-2 and 12th in the West.
The Jazz got their first win after opening 0-2, and they are 1-2 and 12th in the West. Lauri Markkanen scored 16 with four threes in 34.1 minutes. Darryn Peterson added 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting with no turnovers. Isaiah Collier had 10 points and seven assists off the bench, and Brice Sensabaugh scored 10. Ace Bailey had seven rebounds but shot 2 of 8 and 1 of 6 from three. Utah turned the ball over 18 times, with George and Kyle Filipowski combining for nine of them. The Jazz will want cleaner ball handling, but they held on in a game that stayed close.
05What it means for New OrleansThe Pelicans are 0-3 and 15th in the West.
The Pelicans are 0-3 and 15th in the West. They have lost three straight and are 0-3 over their last 10. Their third quarter showed what the offense can do, with 38 points and a four-point lead. The fourth went the other way. Jordan Poole made 9 of 10 free throws but shot 1 of 8 from the field. Trey Murphy III had nine points on 4-of-9 shooting. Jeremiah Fears scored seven points and finished minus-11, the worst mark on either team. Derik Queen had 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench. New Orleans has the scoring, but it is still looking for its first win.
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