NEW ORLEANS — In an impressive display of athleticism and skill, Zion Williamson led the New Orleans Pelicans to a 136-123 victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Williamson, showcasing his power with a series of electrifying dunks, accumulated a standout total of 24 points and 14 rebounds, particularly shining in the decisive fourth quarter. This game marks the beginning of a two-game set, with the teams scheduled to face off again in New Orleans on Monday evening.
CJ McCollum contributed significantly for the Pelicans, making his first five attempts from beyond the arc and finishing with 26 points. Meanwhile, both Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III added 19 points each, helping propel the Pelicans to their third consecutive win and fourth victory in their last five outings.
On the other side, Keyonte George led the Jazz with 26 points, while Collin Sexton chipped in with 24 points. The Jazz, currently sitting at 10-30, have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games and holding the fewest wins in the Western Conference, just behind the Pelicans who have an 11-32 record.
New Orleans initially surged ahead with a 26-point lead triggered by Daniel Theis’ 3-pointer, making it 50-24 early in the second quarter. However, Utah fought back, outscoring the Pelicans 28-11 for the remainder of the period, narrowing the gap to 61-52 by halftime. After regrouping, the Pelicans dominated the second half to secure the victory.
In terms of injuries, the Jazz were without forward Lauri Markkanen for the third consecutive game due to lower back spasms. This comes alongside other absences including Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) and John Collins (left hip), which made it challenging for Utah to keep up with a Pelicans team that is becoming healthier and more cohesive.
For the Pelicans, rookie center Yves Missi was absent due to a non-COVID illness, prompting Theis to step up and achieve his best performance of the season with 18 points, alongside eight rebounds. Additionally, reserve rookie center Karlo Matkovic made his first appearance in five games, contributing by blocking two shots.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Williamson quickly scored nine points in the first 3:48 of the fourth quarter. This included a highlight-reel dunk over center Drew Eubanks and a thrilling alley-oop jam from Murphy’s lob, which pushed New Orleans to an 111-90 lead.
In a significant statistic, the Pelicans nailed a season-high 22 3-pointers, shooting 44% from beyond the arc with a total of 22 attempts out of 50.
