Gobert, Mitchell Help Jazz Blowout Pelicans For First Preseason Win

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell helped the Utah Jazz pick up a 127-96 blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans in preseason action.

The Jazz played the Pelicans in their first preseason game at Vivint Arena on Monday night. Rudy Gobert led the Jazz with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Mitchell added 18 points, while Jordan Clarkson put up 17 points off the bench.

Quin Snyder elected to play his starters over 20 minutes. Mitchell had 30 minutes, Bojan Bogdanovic played 26 minutes, Royce O’Neale was on the floor for 25 minutes, Gobert played 24 minutes and Mike Conley had 21 minutes.

The @utahjazz easily handle the @PelicansNBA 127-96.

Rudy Gobert had 19 points and 19 rebounds to lead the team.

Final preseason game Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. #takenote pic.twitter.com/KoabExJGso

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 12, 2021

Bogdanovic, Gobert Spark Jazz With Strong First Half

It was a great start for the Jazz with a 16-6 lead early in the game with seven points coming from Bojan Bogdanovic. He and Mike Conley led the way with seven points apiece in the opening quarter. New Orleans would cut into the lead but the Jazz still had a 28-22 advantage going into the second quarter.

The second quarter was better than the first throughout the duration. It was balanced scoring that led to a 35-24 advantage in favor of the Jazz and taking a 63-46 halftime lead. Rudy Gobert led the way with nine points and eight rebounds in just the second quarter, while Donovan Mitchell added eight points in the period.

Through the first half, three Jazz players reached double figures, including Mike Conley with 12 points, Gobert with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Mitchell’s 10 points. Jordan Clarks had nine points off the bench for the Jazz, who shot 50% as a team in the first half.

Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 12 points in the first half. He was the only New Orleans player in double figures.

At the half the @utahjazz lead the @PelicansNBA 63-46.

Rudy Gobert was truly brilliant on both ends in his preseason debut.

He's got 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists at the break. #takenote pic.twitter.com/kq6YJDzTbY

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 12, 2021

Jazz Dominate Pelicans In Second Half

Utah created separation in the third quarter by outscoring the Pelicans 32-19. Once again it was balanced scoring for the Jazz as Gobert and Mitchell led the way with eight points apiece, followed by seven points from Bogdanovic.

The start of the fourth quarter was all Jazz as they jumped out to an 8-0 run with some great plays by Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson. Then head coach Quin Snyder emptied the bench and played some of the players that are trying to make the roster.

Utah improved their preseason record to 1-2 and will wrap the four-game preseason slate on Wednesday, October 13 against the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks at Vivint Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MDT and will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and heard on the Zone Sports Network.