The New Orleans Pelicans have been playing well lately as they are looking to grab a fourth straight victory tonight. They are coming fresh off a 124-121 win against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Tonight’s matchup against the Utah Jazz will mark the second of three straight road games for the Pelicans before they return back home.
The Jazz, on the other hand, are seeking their third straight win as they are coming off a 113-109 victory against the Golden State Warriors. This will be the last game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena before the Jazz go on a five-game road trip. Tonight’s game will mark the first of four meetings between these two teams this season.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:
The New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz have battled each other a grand total of 58 times in the past as the Jazz won 36 games, keeping the Pelicans at 22 victories.
INACTIVES:
New Orleans Pelicans:
-Derrick Favors (back; 8.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 62.1 FG%, 50.0 3P%)
-Josh Hart (ankle; 12.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 46.2 FG%, 38.6 3P%)
-Darius Miller (Achilles)
-Jahlil Okafor (ankle; 9.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 64.8 FG%)
-Zion Williamson (knee)
-Nickeil Alexander-Walker (coach’s decision; 6.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 32.7 FG%, 35.6 3P%)
-Josh Gray (G-League; 1.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)
Utah Jazz:
-Ed Davis (leg; 1.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 40.0 FG%)
-Rudy Gobert (ankle; 13.3 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 66.1 FG%)
-Juwan Morgan (coach’s decision)
-Miye Oni (coach’s decision; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
-Nigel Williams-Goss (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Justin Wright-Foreman (G-League)
-Jarrell Brantley (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)
GAMETIME:
The Utah Jazz would take full control of the game in the first half as they shot fifty-five percent from the field while their defense kept the visiting team to thirty-five percent. Donovan Mitchell got hot for 23 points which included four three-pointers. He also had five rebounds and three assists while Bojan Bogdanovic earned himself 20 on eighty percent shooting. Bogdanovic was able to drill 3 three-pointers in the process.
The 28th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Tony Bradley contributed with 10 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Mike Conley had just four points but recorded two rebounds and two assists. Former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeff Green played the most minutes off the bench but was kept to just four points.
As for the Pelicans, Jaxson Hayes chalked up 13 points while recording three rebounds. J.J. Redick gave 12 points, earning six of them from the beyond the arc and the other six from the charity stripe. Jrue Holiday scored nine rebounds which included a trey in the second period. Lonzo Ball played 11 minutes off the bench but only had two points while the home team went into halftime with a 74-54 lead.
The Louisiana ball club would attempt a comeback in the second half as they went on a 66-54 run, shooting forty-eight percent from the field. During that run, Brandon Ingram, who scored just eight points in the first half, got hot for 25 points. He only missed four of his 13 shots attempted as he drilled 3 three-pointers.
Jrue Holiday recorded 19 points while hitting two three-pointers in the process. He also had three defensive rebounds, three steals, and two blocks while Redick helped out with two three-pointers and two free-throws. Ball played the most minutes off the bench as he scored 11 points.
On the other end of the court, Mitchell gave 14 points while hitting two three-pointers in the process. Bogdanovic and Conley combined for 15 points while Royce O’Neale was held scoreless. Joe Ingles played 13 minutes off the bench but only had a trey while the Jazz were able to escape with a 128-120 victory. Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Brandon Ingram settled for 33 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal.
So…what’s next?
The New Orleans Pelicans will head to California to take on Paul George (26.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 48.1 FG%, 43.2 3P%) and the Los Angeles Clippers (11-5) on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. This will mark the second of four times that these ball clubs will matchup this season. The last time they played each other was on November 14 when the Clippers fell to the Pelicans, 132-127. Jrue Holiday finished that game with 36 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals, and one block while Paul George had 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The Utah Jazz will visit Wisconsin to fight Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.1 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 56.6 FG%, 29.0 3P%) and the Milwaukee Bucks (12-3) on Monday at 8:00 p.m. This will be the second and final time that they play each other this season. November 8 was the last time they saw each other as the Jazz pulled away with a 103-100 win. During that game, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 33 points and grabbed 5 rebounds while Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
