Jazz Vs. Pelicans: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans on the second of a two-game series.

The Jazz are in the second game of a six-game homestand at Vivint Arena and have won six straight games overall heading into the matchup.

The Pelicans are just 1-6 in their last seven games, including Tuesday night’s 118-102 loss to the Jazz.

Follow this page throughout the evening for updates on pregame quotes, starting lineups, and highlights and thoughts throughout the game.

The @utahjazz are looking for a two-game sweep of the @PelicansNBA tomorrow. #TakeNote https://t.co/3iYjjjMLen

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 21, 2021

Pregame Quotes

Play the same team twice in a row presents challenges, though usually during the regular season it’s limited to a single home and home back-to-back series. During the pandemic, however, teams are playing one another twice in the same city. As a result, how teams are approaching the mini-series has changed.

“We played really well last game, shot well,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “So, when you win and you play well you’re almost trying to anticipate adjustments. It’s a little bit of guesswork.”

One of the things the Jazz did best against the Pelicans in game one was limit them to just six made three-pointers on 26 attempts.

The Pelicans average the third-fewest three-point attempts in the NBA regardless of who they are facing at just 30.1 per game. New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy explained the problem.

“When a lot of teams are putting four and five perimeter shooters out there, we’re putting three out there,” Van Gundy said. “We’re not going to get the number of attempts that some of these people like. It’s the quality of the threes we get and our ability to knock them down.”

The Pelicans start both Zion Williamson and Steven Adams who are for the most part, non-three-point shooters. Williamson made nearly 43 percent of his three-point attempts last season but took just 0.6 per game. That number has dropped to 0.2 per game, and he’s yet to make one this season.

Starting Lineups

The starters for the @utahjazz and the @PelicansNBA. pic.twitter.com/14Uagf0NBp

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 22, 2021

First Quarter

All Donovan Mitchell to start the game as he’s got the Jazz first seven points. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson hits his first three of the season. He’s got to shoot threes if the Pelicans want to have better spacing on offense, so that’s a good sign for the Pelicans.

Mike Conley meanwhile is 0-3 he hasn’t struggled to shoot the ball often this season.

The @utahjazz and the @PelicansNBA are knotted up at 17 after 6 minutes.

But it's been all Donovan Mitchell so far. He's got 13 of the Jazz first 17 points. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Different Brandon Ingram tonight who had 18 points all night in the two teams’ last game. He’s got 13 in the first quarter tonight. Remember, he averaged 35 points per game last season against the Jazz.

Pelicans have 7 made threes in the first 10 minutes tonight and they had 6 made threes all game on Tuesday.

🕷 Spida had him skating. ⛸ #TakeNote #NOPatUTA https://t.co/O4ZdyJVl8R

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

New Orleans has more energy than the Jazz do tonight, which Quin Snyder predicted during his pregame availability. He expected the Pelicans to come out paying harder and they have.

At the end of the first quarter the Jazz trail the Pelicans 43-31.

Bad defensive performance from the Jazz in the first quarter, but New Orleans is running harder and shooting lights out.

Pels shooting 68% FG and 72% 3Pt.

At the end of the first quarter the @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 43-31.

Bad defensive performance from the Jazz in the first quarter, but New Orleans is running harder and shooting lights out.

Pels shooting 68% FG and 72% 3Pt. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/ZSgrZKV6lU

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Second Quarter

Pelicans start the quarter by ballooning the lead up to 16, but two threes bookmarked a Rudy Gobert dunk and trimmed the deficit to just 8.

Still, the Jazz are going to need to prove their defense can catch up to the Pelicans offense.

Nice start to the second quarter for the @Utahjazz who have trimmed the @PelicansNBA lead to 8 after it was as large as 16.

Jazz need more stops, but the threes are falling. #takeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Feels like Mike Conley is having his worst game in a while and he’s the only starter with a positive +/- for the Jazz. He has had the benefit of playing with a bench unit that is badly outplaying the Pelicans.

The Jazz have 12 free-throws in the second quarter and haven’t missed. Pelicans were in the penalty with seven minutes left in the half and the Jazz have taken advantage.

At the half the @utahjazz lead the @PelicansNBA 70-69.

Jazz trailed by 16 early in the quarter but battled back thanks to a perfect 13-13 shooting performance from the free-throw line in the quarter.

Mitchell has 21.

Ingram has 20. #takeNote pic.twitter.com/cEKaSj4h07

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Third Quarter

The Jazz have had a brilliant third quarter, and have outscored the Pelicans 28-15 with 2:23 left in the period.

Mitchell up to 34 points on 11-15 shooting as the Jazz are off to another brilliant third quarter, their third in the last four games.

Fiery timeout for the Pelicans and coach Stan Van Gundy gets tossed after Steven Adams picked up a technical foul.

It’s been a long road trip for New Orleans.

The @utahjazz have had a brilliant third quarter, and have outscored the @pelicansnba 28-15.

2:23 left in the quarter, and the Jazz lead 98-84.

Donovan Mitchell up to 34 points on 11-15 shooting. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/jwmlhvwHmc

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Mitchell became the fastest player in NBA history to hit 600 threes. He opened the game 5-5 from deep to reach the milestone.

It’s a remarkable achievement considering many people didn’t think he was going to be a shooter in the NBA after connecting on just 33 percent of his threes in college.

Jazz win the quarter 30-23, and lead 100-92 with 12 minutes left to play.

Your nightly insane finish from @Zionwilliamson pic.twitter.com/EsqtpbsPJg

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 22, 2021

Fourth Quarter

Great open to the fourth quarter for the Jazz who are now up 15 after a 7-0 run capped by a Joe Ingles three.

Jazz bench is 7-18 from three to help the Jazz hit 15-35 so far in the game.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans have just two made threes after hitting 7-10 to open the game. They’ve made just 2 of their last 13.

Big 7-0 run from the @utahjazz capped by a three from Jingling Joe Ingles and they lead 115-100 over the @PelicansNBA.

8:22 left in the game, Jazz in good shape. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

Mike Conley has had a big fourth quarter and helped put this game away for the Jazz. After a quiet, 8 point first half he’s got 12 in the second half and has taken advantage of Williamson’s poor defense.

The Jazz are going to win their seventh straight game.

The @utahjazz beat the @PelicansNBA 129-118.

Jazz have won seven in a row, Donovan Mitchell leads all scorers with 36 points.

Jazz hit 24-25 free-throws which changed the game in the second quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/dwyRPPsuKw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021