New Orleans played one of its best offensive games of the season Monday, but it still wasn’t quite enough. Utah shot 51 percent from the field and 16/33 from three-point range, earning a narrow road victory that wasn’t decided until the last of 183 shots taken by the two Western Conference teams. New Orleans scored at least 28 points in every quarter, committed only six turnovers and shot 48 percent from the field. The 126 points were the most the Pelicans have scored in a regulation loss all season.
After winning six of its previous eight games, New Orleans dropped a hard-fought affair vs. one of the NBA’s hottest clubs. Utah ran its winning streak to six games.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Brandon Ingram dribbled the length of the floor in the waning seconds but couldn’t make the shot around Utah center Rudy Gobert, just before the final horn sounded. Referees went to the monitor for replay review to determine time remaining, but then declared the game was over. It appeared Ingram was struck on the arm during his shot by Gobert, but no whistle was blown.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Ingram rolled to double-digit points in both halves, finishing with 35 after scoring 16 prior to intermission, then 19 after it. He was one of two former Lakers to flourish against the Jazz, as Lonzo Ball notched 21 points on 8/14 shooting, including 4/6 on threes. Ball approached triple-double territory by also copping eight rebounds and seven assists.
BY THE NUMBERS
14: Total turnovers by the two teams. Fourteen is a quality, low number for one team in a game, let alone two. For example, Orlando leads the NBA in fewest turnovers at 12.8 per game.
12/31, 24/30: Three-point shooting and foul shooting for New Orleans, both above its season percentages.
47-43: New Orleans rebounding advantage. Former Utah player Derrick Favors led the Pelicans with 10 rebounds, his ninth consecutive game of double-digit boards.
#WEEKLYREVIEW
After only Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday or Derrick Favors had won a Pelicans Player of the Week vote (by fans) through the first 10 weeks of the regular season, Lonzo Ball was a landslide winner for Week 11, with the point guard averaging 23.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals. He also shot 54 percent from the field. The Pelicans had a light schedule game-wise, splitting a pair of contests in California against the Lakers and Kings.
Previous winners:
Week 1-3: Brandon Ingram
Week 4: Jrue Holiday
Week 5-9: Brandon Ingram
Week 10: Derrick Favors
