The Pelicans arrived in Utah on their best momentum of their season, with seven wins in a row, but the Jazz, well helped by the return of Lauri Markkanen (19 points, 11 rebounds), easily won this match by creating a definitive gap at the start of the second half (121-100).
Zion Williamson (26 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) made his game again by sowing terror in the paint again but his teammates were across in address at 4/27 behind the arc, like Trey Murphy who ends up downright hood at 0/7 on shots. Only veterans CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas managed to go over 10 points scored, at 14 and 15 respectively, but both under 50% shooting success.
In full swing behind their inner strength embodied by the Jarred Vanderbilt – Walker Kessler duo, the Jazz managed their best second defensive quarter of the season (holding NOLA to just 15 points) before continuing with their 3rd most offensive quarter of the season (39 points scored). The ideal recipe for a warm end to the match!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A 3rd quarter assassin. Already held to 15 points in the second quarter, the Pelicans literally exploded in full flight upon returning from the locker room. Defensively, this time, by conceding 39 points for 26 registered, New Orleans failed to contain the successive waves of Jazz, who surfed on the address of Malik Beasley (10 points over the period) and the defense of Walker Kessler (9 rebounds in the quarter) to achieve his best 3rd quarter of the season. Despite the efforts of Zion Williamson who scored 14 points in 3rd, NOLA sank, down 20 points after a final 8-0 concluded by a 3-point buzzer from Jordan Clarkson.
– The Jazz win the battle for rebounds. Clumsy at 3-pointers, the Pels also lacked involvement in rebounds, dropping 19 offensive rebounds for the Jazz. With Vanderbilt and Kessler, but also Markkanen all three finishing at 10 or more rebounds, Utah easily won the battle. They even pulled off a pretty huge +16 (59-43) in the final addition. “We simply had five players who threw themselves into battle, who put their bodies in opposition to the opponent”appreciated Vanderbilt. “We had the right mentality to hit first and get the rebounds. We did a great job to do that collectively. »
– The good return of Lauri Markkanen. After missing three games due to a virus, Lauri Markkanen didn’t look any more rusty than this. Reinserted as a joke in the five major, the “Finnisher” managed a boss game with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He even added the defensive touch by masterfully taping Willy Hernangomez in defense.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jarred Vanderbilt. Duty player, “Vando” managed an exemplary match in the painting of Jazz. Author of a warrior double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, the former Wolves added 6 assists. And to top it all off, he was incredibly effective, with just one missed shot, at 8/9, for a massive assessment established at 37!
✅ Walker Kessler. Back on the bench with the return to business of Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler has not dropped in pace. On the contrary, the interior rookie also managed a nice double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, plus 3 blocks. This is his fourth career, including three in the month of December alone.
✅ Zion Williamson. Explosive against Kessler whom he posterized in brute force, Zion Williamson confirmed that he was in great shape, with an 8th game in a row with 20 points or more. With 26 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, but playing time limited by fouls, “Zanos” was one of the only Pels to float in this complicated attack match for his team. Zion Williamson is also running 31 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists since the beginning of December!
⛔️ Trey Murphy III. For a few days, he has lost his address. For the third game in a row, he did not reach the ten, while turning to 13 points for his second season, in full swing after a promising rookie season. But, tonight, it was grimace soup with a match finished with 0 points, 0/7 on shots including 0/4 from afar. On his last three outings, he is now at a small 4/20 on shots…
THE FOLLOWING
– Pelicans (18-9): again in Utah this Thursday.
– Jazz (16-14): re-reception of the Pels this Thursday.
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