Jazz See Game Slip Away In Fourth Quarter Against New Orleans
Mar 4, 2019, 9:30 PM | Updated: 9:36 pm
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) grabs the ball during an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 4, 2019. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz saw their winning streak end at four with a 115-112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
After leading most of the game, the Jazz’s lead crumbled in the fourth quarter. New Orleans outscored the Jazz 33-24 in the final quarter and held Utah without a made field goal for nearly six minutes to steal the game. The Jazz led by 17 with eight minutes remaining.
The game was Mardi Gras celebration of sorts as both squads donned purple, green and gold uniforms, an homage to both organization’s connection to New Orleans.
Final. pic.twitter.com/OUkfNzaGXu
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 5, 2019
Utah got major contributions from the bench as Kyle Korver and Jae Crowder both had 20 points each after sitting to start the game. The duo was especially sharp from deep as Korver had five triples while Crowder knocked down four of his own.
The Jazz had to reckon with New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, who had a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. The All-Star center was listed as OUT and wasn’t expected to play in the game. However, in his pre-game availability with the media, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry stated that Davis would suit up. He did however sit out the majority of the fourth quarter as has been the case since Davis requested a trade from the organization earlier in the season.
With Davis on the sidelines, the Pelicans made their move after going the entire game without holding onto the lead. On the strength of a 20-2 run and a six minute field goal drought by Utah, the Pelicans caught the Jazz at the 4:07 mark on a made layup by Elfrid Payton to give New Orleans a 106-105 advantage.
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The Jazz responded and scored on back-to-back sequences where Rudy Gobert made a tough block down low leading to a coast-to-coast layup by Donovan Mitchell. On the exciting plays, the Jazz retook the lead at 112-111 with 43 seconds remaining.
hooooboy Rudy defending and Donovan making buckets: a love story
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 5, 2019
Unfortunately, Elfrid scored on a second-chance opportunity to give the Pelicans the lead again with 24 seconds remaining.
Mitchell, under heavy distress, put up a shot with seconds remaining but it rimmed out. The Pelicans’ Julius Randle rebounded the ball, was fouled and knocked down the free throws to ice the game with less than a second remaining.
By The Numbers
In the loss, Mitchell finished with 16 points. Gobert, bounced back from a bad performance against Milwaukee on Saturday and turned in a double-double with 17 points and 18 rebounds.
New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday had a game-high with 30 points.
a mood pic.twitter.com/KJEbgj5GR0
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 5, 2019
Next Up
The Jazz will face the Pelicans again, this time in New Orleans, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
