Pelicans Beat Jazz 128-121 In Battle Of West’s Worst Teams
Mar 2, 2025, 9:02 PM | Updated: Mar 5, 2025, 10:30 am
New Orleans Pelicans forward Kelly Olynyk (13) goes up to take a shot against Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99)(Credit: Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
(Credit: Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 128-121 in a battle of the Western Conference’s two worst teams.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 28 points and five assists, while former Jazzman Kelly Olynyk had 26 to lead the Pelicans.
The Jazz led by as many as six points midway through the fourth quarter, but a 15-0 run, fueled by sharpshooter CJ McCollum and Olynyk helped the Pelicans seal the victory.
CJ McCollum drills three straight 3s 🔥
Part of a Pelicans 15-0 4Q run on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/BnNktQebND
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2025
Jazz Loss May Be Most Consequential Of The Season
With Sunday’s loss, the Jazz sit at 15-45 on the season with 22 games left to play.
More importantly, the Jazz fell 1.5 games back of New Orleans in the Western Conference standings who now sit at 17-44, with one fewer game remaining on their schedule.
Entering Sunday’s matchup, the Jazz had the 15th most difficult schedule remaining while the Pelicans schedule ranked 10th.
Over their final 21 games, New Orleans will face 12 teams ranked inside of the top six seeds in their conferences, and another five against teams currently slated to compete in the Play-In Tournament.
The Jazz trading Kelly Olynky at the 2024 trade deadline might end up helping their lottery odds in back-to-back drafts.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2025
Only four of the Pelicans remaining 21 games are against teams not competing for playoff seeding.
The Jazz meanwhile will face 11 teams ranked within the top six of their conferences, and four teams slated for the Play-In Tournament.
Seven of the Jazz’s remaining 22 games will come against teams with records below .500, and not competing for the postseason.
The Jazz will close the season with 10 games left at home, and 12 on the road.
The Pelicans have 11 games remaining at home and 10 left on the road.
The @utahjazz now sit 1.5 games back of the Pelicans with 22 games left to play.
The Jazz have also played one fewer game than the Pels, so they have a little extra control over their destiny.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2025
With Sunday’s loss, the Jazz retained the third-worst record in the NBA and would be tied with the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards with a 14.0 chance of selecting first, a 13.4 percent chance of drafting second, a 12.7 percent chance of drafting third, and a 12.0 percent chance of drafting fourth if the draft lottery was held today.
The Jazz would have a 47.8 percent chance of drafting fifth through seventh.
The Pelicans meanwhile would have a 12.5 percent chance of picking first, a 12.2 percent chance of picking second, an 11.9 percent chance of drafting third, and an 11.5 percent chance of drafting fourth if the standings hold steady for the remainder of the season.
New Orleans would have a 51.9 percent chance of drafting between fifth and eighth.
What Did Jaden Springer Say About New Deal?
Before Sunday’s game against the Pelicans, ESPN’s Shams Charania announced that guard Jaden Springer had signed a three-year deal with the Jazz.
The guard signed a 10-day contract with the Jazz on February 19, but will now remain with the team for the rest of the regular season.
“It’s a blessing,” Springer said. “Shout out to this team for believing, believing in me, taking that chance and bringing me along.”
Related: Jaden Springer To Sign Three-Year Deal With Jazz, Per ESPN
The guard had averaged 3.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in four appearances with the team entering Sunday’s game.
bodied up and got the bucket 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Jhu8FE5t27
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2025
Springer was the 28th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by Philadelphia and has appeared in 98 games for the 76ers, Celtics, and Jazz over the last four seasons.
“His instincts and his nature fit what we need really well,”x Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “He’s continuing to learn some of the things we’re trying to do offensively, and that’s not a surprise, but I think his ability to not get screened is probably the part that I like the most.”
Springer’s contract is likely to be non-guaranteed and will give the Jazz the flexibility to use his deal in trade talks this summer.
The 22-year-old can also play for the Jazz in the summer league and audition for a spot on the roster if he remains with the team through training camp.
Springer averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 46 percent from the floor, and 43.5 from three in his lone season for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Of Note
- Oscar Tshiebwe recorded his first double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, both career highs.
- The Pelicans outscored the Jazz 76-56 in the paint.
- The Jazz received a late technical foul when Will Hardy called a timeout with five seconds left in the game despite the team not having any at their disposal. The Jazz coach blamed his frustration over the team’s performance for his mistake.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will host the Detroit Pistons on Monday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
