Rookie Keyonte George scored 19 points and hit a key 3-pointer to help guide the Utah Jazz to a 114-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz played without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen (left hamstring soreness) for the second straight game, but they used a balanced attack to beat the Pelicans at home for the second time in three nights.
Seven Jazz players scored in double figures, including Jordan Clarkson, who compiled 16 points and 10 assists. Walker Kessler and Simone Fontecchio each scored 14, John Collins and Ochai Agbaji had 12 apiece, and Collin Sexton fired in 11 points.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 26 points and seven assists after sitting out the Jazz’s 105-100 win over Pelicans on Saturday night.
New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram scored 25 and Jonas Valanciunas contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. Naji Marshall added 14 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Jordan Hawkins had 13 points and Herbert Jones scored 10.
George scored the final Utah’s points on a 3-pointer for a 114-107 lead with 2:42 remaining. Though the Jazz missed their final five shots, they escaped with the win following a frantic finish.
After a Marshall bucket and a Jones 3-pointer cut the deficit to two with 1:14 to go, the Pelicans got the ball back with 10.7 seconds remaining for a chance to force overtime or win in regulation. However, Ingram missed a long jumper and Marshall’s tip attempt was off.
The Pelicans lost despite outshooting the Jazz 50 percent to 42 percent, but Utah made up the difference by going 17-for-48 (35.4 percent) from 3-point territory. New Orleans was just 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from deep.
The Jazz never trailed during the first quarter while making six 3-pointers. Utah’s lead increased to 11 momentarily in the second quarter when the Jazz responded to a New Orleans push with a 6-0 run.
Marshall sparked a Pelicans surge, and the visitors trimmed the deficit to two by halftime following a Valanciunas dunk with 6.7 seconds remaining.
Ingram scored 11 points in the third quarter to help the Pelicans tie it up at 88-88 heading into the final stanza.
–Field Level Media