The Pelicans arrived in Utah strong with a seven-game winning streak and a first-place finish in the West. They leave with two consecutive losses, and have slipped to second place in the conference.
Because after the first duel largely won by the Jazz, Zion Williamson and his teammates lost again in Salt Lake City. But this time, it took extra time to decide between the two teams, and above all a fiery Jordan Clarkson – Lauri Markkanen duo to bend Willie Green’s troops (132-129).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Completely insane last two minutes. The Pelicans had failed to capitalize on their good return from the locker room, and the “money-time” was therefore explosive. A 3-pointer from Jordan Clarkson tied the teams (118-118) in the final two minutes, then Lauri Markkanen gave Utah the lead. In the layup then in the pass for Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson however allowed his team to equalize to go into overtime, following a final counter by Larry Nance Jr. on Lauri Markkanen in the alley-oop…
– Pelican fatigue. New Orleans is among the teams that rely the least on 3-point shooting, with only the Bulls shooting less per game. The Pelicans therefore have to run and cut a lot and this game does not support energy drops. When that happens, like at the end of the match, it becomes complicated.
– The Zion Williamson – Lauri Markkanen duel. It’s not a direct duel as the two have rarely defended against each other. However, Zion Williamson and Lauri Markkanen showed the two faces of the strong winger of impact in the NBA, between the attacks of the circle in force of the first, and the more elusive play in finesse of the second.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen. Both men were the driving forces behind Utah. With his 3 + 1 against Zion Williamson at the start of the game, the first showed all the harm he was going to do to the Pelicans, being lethal (39 points, 8 rebounds) late in the game and in overtime. As for the second, he sanctioned the slightest delay of the defense from the wings, to finish with 31 points, without shaking on the free throw line (10/10).
✅ Zion Williamson. 31 points at 12/24, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. The strong winger does not just hit the opposing defenses with his large biceps, he reads the game better and better to offer good shots to his shooters, like the equalizer for Trey Murphy III to snatch the extension.
⛔️ The failed passage of New Orleans substitutes. While the Pelicans had taken over the game, pointing to +12 in the score (89-77), the exit of Zion Williamson allowed the Jazz to return. Dyson Daniels and Naji Marshall chained ball losses and missed shots, and the gap fell in a few minutes.
THE FOLLOWING
Utah (17-14) : see you in Milwaukee, tomorrow evening (02:00)
New Orleans (18-10) to revive, the Pelicans go … to Phoenix, tomorrow evening (03:00).
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