Defensive Struggles, Poor Shooting Leads To Double-Digit Halftime Deficit For Jazz Against Pelicans
Jul 30, 2020, 5:59 PM | Updated: Jul 31, 2020, 12:40 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The combination of poor defensive and offensive shots not falling led the Utah Jazz to a double-digit halftime deficit against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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The Jazz played the Pelicans on Thursday, July 30, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The contest was the first NBA basketball game in four and a half months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After the first 24 minutes of game time, the Jazz trailed the Pelicans 60-48.
Utah allowed New Orleans to shoot 50 percent from the field, including 42.9 percent from three, during the first two quarters.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 15 points on 6-11 field goals. New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday added 12 points.
⚪️🏀⚪️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/B9nApKrGSl
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) July 30, 2020
The Jazz struggled to find the bottom of the basket and shot 34.1 percent overall and a dismal 20 percent from downtown in the first half.
Guards Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson were the only Jazzmen to score double digits in the opening quarters. Conley scored a Jazz-high 14 points. Clarkson added 10 points off the bench.
This sequence from @mconley10 👍#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/7CpM5ck9ot
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) July 30, 2020
Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell scored a combined 11 points.
Conley and Jazz forward Joe Ingles were Utah’s only players with a positive plus-minus rating during their time on the court.
Utah had four assists compared to New Orleans’ 15 dishes.
The Jazz held a nine-point advantage with 4:50 left in the first quarter. Over the next 16:50, the Pelicans outscored the Jazz 48-27.
Utah’s game against the New Orleans is broadcast on TNT, AT&T SportsNet, and 97.5 FM.
