Jazz Vs. Pelicans: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans in the first of a two-game series.

The Jazz return to Salt Lake City to being a six-game homestand at Vivint Arena. The Jazz are winners of five straight heading into the game.

The Pelicans meanwhile just halted a five-game losing streak with a 128-123 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Follow this page throughout the evening for updates on pregame quotes, starting lineups, and highlights and thoughts throughout the game.

The @UtahJazz will put their five-game win streak on the line against the @PelicansNBA Tuesday night.

Brandon Ingram averaged 35 points against the Jazz last season.

🎷🏀⚜️#TakeNote https://t.co/sEAkzYUrY5

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 18, 2021

Pregame Availability

The Jazz are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and coach Quin Snyder credited chemistry among the team’s newer players for the recent uptick.

“Mike [Conley] is feeling more comfortable demanding the ball, and you can demand it in a subtle way,” Snyder said “But guys are just getting used to each other, and over time, I think everybody kind of finds the best way to play.”

The Jazz have the league’s fifth-best offense over their last five games and the number one defense.

Jodan Clarkson is among the team’s newer players that have also found a better groove in Snyder’s system this season.

“I think he’s really just becoming more and more efficient,” Snyder said of the Jazz sixth man. “And that means being aggressive, too — I think his reads in certain situations. And the other thing he’s really committed to defending, and sometimes that means you know getting on him about little things. But he’s got a lot of pride on defense.”

Starting Lineups

Starting lineups for the @utahjazz and the @PelicansNBA. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/SyhGhcA9N1

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 20, 2021

As you can see, Joe Ingles will be back in the lineup for the Jazz after missing the last four of the team’s last five games with Achilles soreness.

Additionally, Lonzo Ball is officially back in the lineup for the Pelicans after missing the last three games with a knee injury.

First Quarter

The Jazz start the game well connecting on 5/6 shots to build an 11-5 lead. Two early turnovers feel familiar, but the Pelicans aren’t preventing the Jazz from running any of their sets, Donovan Mitchell just had a carried ball and Bojan Bogdanovic passed on an open three and stepped out of bounds.

Nice start for the @utahjazz offensively against the @PelicansNBA.

They lead 11-5 on 5/6 shooting.

Donovan Mitchell has a quick 7 points. #takeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

Bogdanovic is now up to three turnovers in four and a half minutes of action. One step out, one travel, one bad cross-court pass.

The Jazz defensive rebounding issues continue to haunt the from the Denver win. The Jazz gave up 23 offensive boards to the Nuggets on Sunday, and have already given up five offensive rebounds to Steven Adams.

The momentum has quickly shifted to the @PelicansNBA who are on a 15-7 run. @utahjazz are struggling to generate open looks, and giving up a ton of second chance opportunities to New Orleans.

Jazz trail 20-18 with 4:09 left in the first.#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/TmaPGzFp6Q

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

Jazz are finding their three-point stroke again in this game and are up to 4-7 to open the game. The team is 8-1 this season when they shoot 35 percent or better from deep, so that’s a good sign for the Jazz.

Mitchell ends the quarter with 15 points. He had a bad shooting night against the Nuggets so it should be a relief to fans that he’s started well this game.

Jazz are up 29-25 at the end of one.

.@spidadmitchell was COOKIN' in the first quarter against the @PelicansNBA.#TakeNote https://t.co/DQPceCqpm2

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

Second Quarter

Georges Niang opens the quarter with a three, followed up by a running dunk on an overly aggressive Zion closeout.

Niang has been really good for the Jazz over the last three games and again tonight. His contributions are a big help.

Back to back baskets from Georges Niang gives him five quick points, and the @utahjazz have built a double-digit lead 36-26.

10:23 left in the half. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

As expected, we have a Georges Niang vs. Zion Williamson duel brewing.

Niang has 8 points in the quarter, Zion Williamson up to 14 for the game.  Jazz lead 46-38 with 7:03 left in the half.

As expected, we have a Georges Niang vs. Zion Williamson duel brewing.

Niang has 8 points in the quarter, Zion Williamson up to 14 for the game.

Jazz lead the @PelicansNBA 46-38 with 7:03 left in the half. #takeNote pic.twitter.com/aGARHbzUK3

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

The Bogdanovic minutes haven’t been good for the Jazz tonight, he’s now 1-5 from the floor and a -8 for the game.

Just a tough stretch of inconsistency to open the year.

Mitchell gives the Jazz a good stretch late with a three-point play and an assist on a Bogdanovic three to rebuild the lead to six at the half.

WHAT. A. PASS by @spidadmitchell #TakeNotehttps://t.co/6ddONTCD4j

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

Third Quarter

Good sign for the Jazz as Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, and Mike Conley all open the third quarter by hitting threes.

The Jazz needed more offense from the non-Mitchell starters and are getting it to open the half.

The Jazz are outshooting the Pelicans from deep by an enormous margin, and it’s the reason for the 15 point lead.

Pelicans: 2-12 Jazz: 13-31 from three.

The @utahjazz are 4/6 from three to open the half, and have built their lead to 15 at 70-55 over the @PelicansNBA.

Bogdanovic, O'Neale, Conley, and Mitchell all have threes in the last four minutes.

8:01 left in the third. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wi31sEy3o6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

The Jazz are in the midst of one of their Warriors stretches with three-point shooting that can end games quickly.

They’ve got six made threes in the quarter and it turns close games into blowouts in a hurry. Of course, the Pelicans can get hot too to close the game, but they haven’t yet.

With 3:21 left in the first half, the @utahjazz lead the @PelicansNBA 80-65.

Jazz have six made threes in the quarter and are led by Donovan Mitchell with 24 points and four three point makes. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/JtnMjn2EH5

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

The Jazz hit 8 threes in the third quarter and lead New Orleans 91-69. Jazz end the quarter on a 9-0 run and won the quarter 36-20.

Fourth Quarter

Just as the Jazz did against the Hawks on Friday, a run over the end of third and into the fourth quarter ended the game.

Jazz continue to take and make threes, and have built a 25 point lead with 9:19 left in the game.

Here is the story of the game. @UtahJazz: 19/43 from three@PelicansNBA: 4/18 from three

Jazz up 99-74 with 9:19 left to play. #TakeNote

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 20, 2021

The Pelicans have cut into the Jazz lead by generating four turnovers on five possessions, with the other possession being a blocked shot that could have easily been counted as a steal.

Mitchell was particularly frustrated by his mistakes, and Quin Snyder had to console and correct him during the timeout.

The @UtahJazz have four turnovers in their last five possessions and the other possession was a block by the @PelicansNBA that led to a layup.

Jazz lead down to 14, 99-85. #Takenote pic.twitter.com/FrTMI6at2W

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

Quin Snyder is taking lesson teaching timeouts right now.

The Jazz are up by 16 with 4:41, the game is over, but Snyder is making a point to emphasize his team’s mistakes with timeouts.

Missed boxout led to a discussion between Gobert and Mitchell, and instead of interjecting, Snyder let them sort it out.

The @utahjazz win their sixth straight.

They beat the @PelicansNBA 118-102, these two teams will meet again on Thursday.

Jazz led by Donovan Mitchell with 28, Zion Williamson had 32. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/R55ETk4cWp

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

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