Jazz Will Be Without Sexton, Fontecchio In Pelicans Rematch
Dec 14, 2022, 5:10 PM
Jarred Vanderbilt #8 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will once again be shorthanded when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.
The Jazz will be without Collin Sexton and Simone Fontecchio as they look to sweep their two-game home series against the Pelicans.
On Tuesday, the Jazz crushed the Pelicans 121-100, snapping their two-game losing streak.
The @utahjazz defense had their best performance of the season in their win over the @PelicansNBA.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has earned his spot in the rotation.
And, Walker Kessler is unfazed by getting dunked on. #TakeNote https://t.co/6OYK5SB0Dr
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 14, 2022
Sexton, Fontecchio Out With Injuries
Collin Sexton will miss his fourth consecutive game with a hamstring injury suffered against the Golden State Warriors on December 7th.
The second-unit guard underwent an MRI on Wednesday and will have his status updated by the team on Thursday.
Sexton is averaging 14.3 points and 3.0 assists in 27 games with the Jazz this season.
Fontecchio was also injured in the Jazz win over the Warriors, despite scoring the game-winning basket.
The @UtahJazz injury report remains unchanged for their @PelicansNBA rematch Thursday.
OUT – Simone Fontecchio (left ankle sprain)
OUT – Collin Sexton (right hamstring strain)
OUT – Johnny Juzang (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Micah Potter (G League – Two-Way)
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) December 14, 2022
The Italian rookie sprained is ankle early in the game but finished the night before being ruled out over past week.
Fontecchio is averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from the three-point line.
The Jazz do expect to have Lauri Markkanen and Mike Conly on the floor for the second straight game. Markkanen returned from an illness that sidelined him for three games and scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Tuesday’s win.
Conley added seven points and six assists in 29 minutes.
Pelicans Look To Avoid Jazz Sweep
Despite being tied for the best record in the West after Tuesday’s loss, the Pelicans are looking to avoid a three-game season sweep at the hands of the Jazz.
The Jazz took down the Pelicans 122-121 in overtime in the third game of the season in New Orleans before dismantling the West’s top seed in their second matchup. Thursday’s matchup is the final regular season meeting between the two teams.
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Brandon Ingram is scheduled to miss his ninth straight game when the Pelicans face the Jazz.
New Orleans was 7-0 after Ingram left the roster with a toe injury, but saw their winning streak snapped in Utah.
Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and New Orleans will tip off at 7 pm MT in Salt Lake City. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. It can also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.
