Jazz At Pelicans: Game Thread

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to the KSL Sports Game Thread as the Utah Jazz are in New Orleans to face the New Orleans Pelicans for the final time this season.

The Jazz are 2-0 against New Orleans so far this season with wins coming in back-to-back games in Salt Lake City in January.

The Pelicans meanwhile are opening a six-game homestand that will bookend the All-Star break, and are looking to get back on track after losing seven of their last 10 games.

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

The @utahjazz are looking to cool down the red-hot Zion Williamson tonight when they face the @PelicansNBA in New Orleans.

Everything you need to know about the game here. #TakeNote https://t.co/peOhvo4Ubl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 1, 2021

Pregame Quotes

Zion Williamson earned his first career All-Star nod this season. The Pelicans forward is on pace to become only the second player in NBA history to average at least 25 points while shooting better than 60 percent from the floor.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder discussed what makes him such a talented player.

“Having him out on the floor in space and having to find shooters in transition makes them even more difficult to guard,” Snyder said. “And then it’s hard to imagine being better at the rim.”

 

While Williamson is putting up historic offensive numbers as an individual, the Jazz offense is doing so as a team, namely with their three-point shooting.

The Jazz have drawn comparisons to 2014 San Antonio Spurs who won the championship, but Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy discussed why it’s difficult to find an apt comparison for this team.

“There are some [similarities] in terms of their ball movement and their ability to play both ends of the floor,” Van Gunday said. “But you go back that many years and there’s just no comparison in terms of the volume and efficiency of the three-point shooting.”

Starting Lineups

Road game #3 loading ▁▂▃▄▅#StartingLineup | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/QEyHgwkPuh

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 2, 2021

First 5️⃣ on the floor vs. the Jazz@Verizon | #WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/I8ypxLStMe

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

First Quarter

• The Jazz have started slow again which is becoming the norm. It’s probably worth asking Quin Snyder about at some point.
• Rudy Gobert hit a 20-foot jump shot and it looked really smooth, but it’s his only basket of the game which is less ideal.

The @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 11-10 with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

Balanced scoring from both teams as 8 of the 10 players on the floor have all found their names on the stat sheet. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/xAkw2ZZsKn

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

• Good sign for the Jazz getting Bojan Bogdanovic going early. He struggled against the Magic, but has three threes in the first quarter.
• Slow first quarter overall as the Jazz manage just 23 points despite hitting five threes.

At the end of the first quarter, the @utahjazz trail the @pelicansnba 26-23.

Jazz shoot 5-12 from three, but don't get to the free-throw line. #takenote pic.twitter.com/chIWiVTfiw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

Second Quarter

• Jordan Clarkson has nine points in six minutes on some nifty foot-work. His defense has been pretty good too.

🚨 Sixth-Man Warning🚨

Jordan Clarkson has nine points in six minutes and the @utahjazz lead the @pelicansNBA 37-32 with 9:40 left in the half. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wZAQH5Yyhq

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

• Bogdanovic now has 15 points on 5-5 shooting from three.
• Meanwhile, the Pelicans have only attempted four threes in the game. You just can’t refuse to take threes and expect to be able to stay in games.
• Lonzo Ball has quietly had a good first half and is up to 14 points on 6-11 shooting.
• Jazz have done a nice job keeping Zion contained and he’s got 9 points on 4-7 shooting. He’s scored at least 20 in 12 straight games.

At the half, the @utahjazz lead the @PelicansNBA 64-59.

Jazz shoot 11-24 from three to build the lead, and outscored New Orleans 41-33 in the second quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/6pCLEqmCn8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

Third Quarter

• Pelicans are playing really hard to open the third and the Jazz are struggling to get stops. They’re also turning the ball over which hasn’t helped.
• After taking 24 threes in the first half, the Jazz have just four in the first 6 minutes of the third quarter.

The @utahjazz are trying to weather an early storm from the @PelicansNBA in the third quarter and lead 75-73 midway through the quarter.

Jazz already have three turnover in the quarter, doubling their game total. #TakeNote
pic.twitter.com/3q3TyL12gd

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

• Jazz have really struggled to contain Zion in the third quarter. They’ll have to make that up when he’s off the floor for a few minutes in the second half, otherwise, he might steal this win single-handedly.
• Jazz have been outscored 30-15 in the quarter.
• Turnovers, not getting into the paint, not getting stops. Those are all signs of a tired Jazz team that just couldn’t keep up with a more aggressive Pelicans roster. See if they can flip the switch in the fourth.

After three the @utahjazz trail the @PelicansNBA 99-88.

Jazz make just 3-9 threes in the third quarter and get outscored 40-24.

This one isn't over, but the Jazz look gassed. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/dBXmxvhrnQ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

Fourth Quarter

• Jazz are getting blown out by the Pelicans. New Orleans builds the lead to 17 early in the fourth quarter and this one is pretty much over.
• Donovan Mitchell misses a dunk and Pelicans turn it into a dunk on the other end. Jazz just can’t get enough stops to keep this close.

If the @utahjazz are going to make a run it has to start now.

They trail the @PelicansNBA 115-103 with just under seven minutes left to play.

Jazz have to figure out a way to get stops which hasn't happened in the second half. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/OzAbWf5p5n

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

• Michell doesn’t get a foul call at the rim and it turns into a three for Lonzo Ball and the Pelicans lead 122-108 with 3:53 left to play.
• The Jazz are putting Steven Adams at the free-throw line and they’re climbing back into his game.
• Jazz down 125-121 with 1:18 left to play.
• Donovan Mitchell missed a layup that would have given the Jazz a lead and Zion Williamson answers with two free-throws.
• Jazz lose 129-124, their eighth loss of the season.