Between two teams who are still looking for their place in the Western hierarchy, the match starts very strong. It's very simple: in the first quarter, Jazz and Pelicans shot at 50% success and held each other in a tight spot, the first propelled by 9 points from Collin Sexton, and the second by 11 points from CJ McCollum (34- 30).
The Pels race in the lead and even regain a 10-point lead, or more, in the second quarter, when Dyson Daniels sends Zion Williamson into the clouds. The latter does quite well distributing the leather, with 8 passes at half-time. With a 69% success rate in the second quarter, including a brilliant 7/11 3-pointer for 43 points, NOLA has already made the break at halftime (77-59).
Zion in passer mode
Utah is trying to hang up its wagons after returning from the locker room, by playing the recovery card in particular, to return to -10. But whether it was Valanciunas on the offensive rebound or Murphy on the counter-attack, NOLA was responsive and regained its ease on the scoreboard before the last quarter (115-91).
In good spirits offensively all evening, the Pelicans finished strong, with a final quarter at 38 points, still above 50% success!
It must be said that between their diabolical 3-point skill (23 baskets at 50%) and a mess of alley-oops, including a last one at high altitude for Zion in the 4th quarter, the NOLA attack was at full speed (153-124).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– An offensive festival. Behind CJ McCollum's 33 points (season record), the Pelicans simply established a new franchise record by scoring a whopping 153 points against the Jazz. With a superb 58% shooting success rate (60/104), including 23/46 from 3-point range, New Orleans never slowed down, the accelerator pedal always on full blast!
– Zion Williamson in “point forward”. Coincidence or not, the night the Pelicans set a new franchise record on offense matched Zion Williamson's career-best passing game, with 11 total (plus 17 points). Always as spectacular at the finish, on two alley-oops in particular last night, he especially left his mark on this match by delivering 8 passes in the first half, in a “point forward” role that the Pels like to see him take on. Sometimes.
– Jazz relapses. With nine wins in ten games at the start of January, the Jazz had experienced an interesting resurgence in the Western standings. But the latter is currently being undermined by a relapse, and a third defeat in a row last night. Because of a lack of toughness according to Will Hardy: “The truth is, we’re not playing hard enough!” They finished at 65 points in the second chance and on the transition game. Dropping 35 points in quick play, especially when you only lose 8 balls, is really bad! »
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
