Pelicans Pull Away From Punchless Jazz In New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana— The Utah Jazz dropped to last place in the Western Conference after being blown out by the New Orleans Pelicans in a 136-123 loss.

The Jazz (10-30) faced the Pelicans (11-32) on Friday, January 17, at Smoothie King Arena. These teams will play again on Monday, January 20.

Back again on Monday.#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Tydz7jWLx9

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

Drew Eubanks fans rejoice as the former Oregon State Beaver should be in line for as many minutes as foul trouble will allow after four Jazz big men were ruled out tonight.

Lauri Markkanen (back) and John Collins (hip) remain out. Walker Kessler will miss tonight for rest, and Micah Potter is out due to illness. Jordan Clarkson and Johnny Juzang remain sidelined as guards.

New Orleans is playing without All-Star forward Brandon Ingram (ankle) and superb defender Herb Jones, who will miss significant time with a shoulder injury.

Pregame

The next 10 @UtahJazz games leading up to the trade deadline. How many games do they win?

@ Pelicans
@ Pelicans
@ Thunder
@ Grizzlies
vs. Bucks
@ Warriors
vs. Timberwolves
vs. Magic
vs. Pacers
vs. Warriors

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 17, 2025

Les cinq premiers du French Quarter⚜️#StartingLineup presented by @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/dX5bk6Y2d1

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

LISTEN LIVE: @utahjazz hit the road to face the @PelicansNBA on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and: https://t.co/UK3MGXS0fF pic.twitter.com/1Kzq06jrH6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

First Quarter

eublockin'
we're buying pic.twitter.com/UExi2BaeFE

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

Early in the first quarter the @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 15-8.

Svi Mykhailiuk getting the start in New Orleans. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/C9AXt2iPMc

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

🐂 NOLA Bull 🐂#TakeNote | @collinsexton02 pic.twitter.com/urNPyMMqhc

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

After one, the @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 42-22.

Jazz struggled to find the Pelicans shooters, giving up 9 first quarter threes. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/33op4HTJxd

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

Second Quarter

The Pelicans have been setting really high screens with Theis on the floor and it's generating great looks for shooters basically every time.

Jazz defenders not getting matched up defensively.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2025

Drew Eubanks 💪 for the @utahjazz https://t.co/YWEs12p6cQ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

friday night frames 📸 https://t.co/AWst6N5nGE pic.twitter.com/dO1XTbAF8I

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

The @PelicansNBA had doubled up the @utahjazz 52-26, but the Jazz have responded with a 13-0 run, and now only trail by 13.

Nice run from the young Jazz. #takenote pic.twitter.com/fHXi1LF2Bb

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

The takeaway from the second quarter is that with a heavy dose of veterans Svi Mykhailiuk, Drew Eubanks, and Patty Mills, the Jazz can compete with the Pelicans.

Collier and Harkless were also excellent in their roles.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2025

The @utahjazz trailed by as much as 26, but are down only 9 to the @PelicansNBA at the half.

Jazz hold New Orleans to just 19 points in the second quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/T3li6m6Ylk

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

Third Quarter

The @PelicansNBA rebuilt their lead to 19 early in the third quarter, but the @utahjazz have shaved it to 13 with 6:42 left in the frame.

Collin Sexton has 18 points to lead the Jazz. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wLmf2FZjXo

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

One thing to like about Isaiah Collier is how he doesn't overcomplicate his game.

He's got a speed advantage, so he beats his man, draws help, and passes the ball where the help came from.

He can do it with pocket passes in the paint, but also to anywhere on the perimeter.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2025

Through three the @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 96-80.

Keyonte George found an offensive groove late in the third scoring nine points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/J5nnZ1iQOh

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

Fourth Quarter

Jose Alvarado tried to do his little hide-out-of-bounds thing to get a steal in the backcourt, but Isaiah Collier is too good of a ball handler, drew the foul, and Alvarado got frustrated and shoved Collier.

Alvarado gets the T.

Collier just laughs at him.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2025

all the homies love a big man three 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Yco0uKmxG1

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 18, 2025

With 7:58 left in the game, the @PelicansNBA are beginning to run away from the @utahjazz.

They lead 111-92, and the crowd is juiced. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/z7csCUtHMZ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

The points obviously haven't mattered, but Keyonte George dialing in after a bad start is a sign of growth from where he was even earlier this year.

His early bad shooting used to compound, and he'd end up with those 3-18 performances.

Positive momentum heading into next game.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2025

The @utahjazz fall to the @PelicansNBA 136-123 on the front end of a two-game road series.

Keyonte George scores 26 while Isaiah Collier records a career-high 11 assists. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/PeswcVnQUK

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2025

Jazz-Hornets Gameday Reading

• Jazz Face Pelicans In Battle Of West’s Worst Teams

• Intriguing Utah Jazz Mock Draft Includes BYU Standout

• Isaiah Collier Logs First Career Double-Double In Jazz Loss

• Utah Jazz Have Three Games Rescheduled After LA Fires

• Utah Jazz Mailbag: What Does Future Backcourt Look Like?

• Jazz Notes: Is Utah In A Good Position For A Top Pick?

• What Has Utah Jazz’s Will Hardy Learned From Utah Hockey Club?

• Johnny Juzang Diagnosed With Fractured Right Hand

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

Tonight’s game against the Pelicans is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on SEG+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.

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. 

Find sports.ksl.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.