Jazz Winning Streak Snapped With Controversial Overtime Loss To Pelicans

Jan 16, 2020, 9:56 PM | Updated: Jan 17, 2020, 12:25 am

KSL Sports

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Utah Jazz fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in a controversial overtime game and suffered their first loss since December 23, 2019.

The Jazz lost 138-132 to the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Thursday, January 16.

Utah’s last defeat prior to the New Orleans game came against the Miami Heat two days before Christmas 2019.

first loss this decade ᴬᴺᴰ ᴵᵀ ᴴᵁᴿᵀˢ pic.twitter.com/1yg6wE0Ltm

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 17, 2020

How Controversy Unfolded

Utah forced the game into a controversial overtime period after Rudy Gobert tied the game up with 0.2 seconds left in regulation.

After Brandon Ingram nailed a 16-foot jumper, the Jazz found themselves down one point with 0.2 seconds remaining.

With that amount of time left on the clock, the only feasible shot is a tip-in at the basket. More time is required for a player to catch and shoot the basketball.

Utah head coach Quin Snyder called a timeout.

Snyder drew up a play and sent his team back to the court.

After seeing how the Pelicans defense was set, Snyder called his final timeout of regulation to adjust his play call before sending the Jazz back to the floor.

As Utah forward Joe Ingles went to throw the ball inbounds and towards the hoop, the officials blew the whistle.

New Orleans rookie Jaxson Hayes had committed his fifth personal foul of the game by holding back Gobert’s arm and prevent him from reaching the ball.

🎥I'm still sitting at my desk trying to figure out what happened in that Jazz game on Thursday night. lol
Controversy at the end of regulation and in Overtime.
Judge for yourself 👇🏽#TakeNote #UTAatNOP https://t.co/bnPFa7Is0J pic.twitter.com/tfYhQVLsAD

— Sam Farnsworth (@SFarnsworthKSL) January 17, 2020

With 0.2 seconds left to play, a foul like that typically isn’t called. To the dismay of the Smoothie King Center crowd attending the game, it was.

Gobert went to the foul line and attempt his first of two free throws.

Miss.

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell went up to Gobert and gave him some encouragement. Gobert nodded.

The Jazz center sank the second free throw and tied the game up at 122.

MOOD #TakeNote #UTAatNOP pic.twitter.com/UOtSKIc3Gk

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 17, 2020

New Orleans inbounded the ball and the time expired, sending the game to five extra minutes.

Overtime

Donovan Mitchell entered overtime with 41 points while Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram had 44 points.

The two stars continued their duel.

🆁🅴🆂🅿🅴🅲🆃@spidadmitchell x @pelicansNBA pic.twitter.com/qGAmUeqOcR

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 17, 2020

Mitchell drilled a 25-foot three-pointer and 10-foot jumper during the opening minutes of OT to tie his career-high of 46 points.

Ingram drove to the basket with 1:19 seconds remaining when the officials blew their whistle again.

Another controversial play.

Rudy Gobert was called for his sixth personal foul.

Snyder immediately called timeout and challenged the official’s decision that the Jazz center had fouled out. After review, the foul was confirmed. Gobert was disqualified from the game and went to the bench.

🤮

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) January 17, 2020

Without their star center, the Jazz crumbled.

The Jazz failed to score in the final 2:28 of play while the Pelicans closed the game on an 11-0 run for the win.

A Whole Lot Of Points

Ingram finished with a career-high 49 points on 15-25 from the field. He went to the free-throw line 20 times and made 16 attempts.

Former Jazzman and current Pelicans forward Derrick Favors posted a great game against his former team. He ended with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Donovan Mitchell scored 46 points on 16-34 shooting including 7-15 from downtown. He shot a perfect 7-7 from the foul stripe.

36 of Mitchell’s points came after halftime.