Jazz Mounts Impressive Fourth Quarter Comeback, Edges Out Pelicans 105-100

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In a stunning fourth quarter performance, Collin Sexton led the Utah Jazz with 10 critical points, contributing to his total of 16, in a remarkable 105-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans this Saturday evening.

Despite missing Zion Williamson, who was rested after averaging 27.3 points in recent games, the Pelicans, now standing at 9-8, dropped to a 1-3 record in his absence.

The Jazz, with a record of 5-11, faced their own challenges, missing key players Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson due to a hamstring injury and illness, respectively. However, they compensated with a collective effort, as rookie Keyonte George scored 15 points and Kelly Olynyk contributed 13.

The Pelicans, coming off a streak of three consecutive wins and victories in five of their last six games, succumbed to fatigue against the Jazz. The latter gained momentum and outscored the Pelicans 37-23 in the final quarter.

Simone Fontecchio’s critical driving layup extended the Jazz’s lead to 103-95 with just 1:11 on the clock. The Pelicans attempted a desperate comeback, but a pivotal traveling violation by Dyson Daniels in the last 9.9 seconds, followed by George’s two successful free throws with 5.7 seconds left, secured the Jazz’s win.

This victory marked the end of a four-game losing streak for Utah. The teams are scheduled for a rematch on Monday in Salt Lake City.

The Pelicans, weary from their late Friday game against the Los Angeles Clippers, struggled to maintain their momentum. The Jazz, who committed 24 turnovers, finally clicked offensively and strategically doubled Brandon Ingram, who scored 26 points, challenging other Pelicans to step up, which they couldn’t.

A pivotal 3-pointer from Olynyk at 7:46 left ignited a 19-7 Jazz run, earning them the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.

The Pelicans, who had led for the majority of the game and even enjoyed a 13-point lead, held a 77-66 advantage late in the third quarter.

Jordan Hawkins was a standout for the Pelicans, scoring 20 of his 25 points in the first half, steering them to a 53-43 lead at halftime.

The Jazz, experimenting with different lineups and substitutions, struggled initially, shooting at 34% with 15 turnovers in the first half.

Walker Kessler, who missed seven games due to an elbow injury sustained in the season opener, was also absent.

Seeking a turnaround after losing eight of their last ten games, the Jazz opted for a fresh starting lineup, including seldom-used players Kris Dunn and Omer Yurtseven, alongside Fontecchio.

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