Streaking Pelicans Face Struggling Jazz
The streaking New Orleans Pelicans (9-7) head to Utah to battle a struggling Jazz (4-11) team in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 25. New Orleans has been hot, but playing in Utah hasn't been kind lately. The Pelicans have lost six of their last seven road games to the Jazz. Their last victory came in November 2021.
New Orleans is coming off an impressive victory Friday night in L.A. versus the Clippers. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson combined for 62 points in the victory. Williamson has not played any back-to-back games this season, so the staff may give Zion the night off in Utah. New Orleans is 1-2 in games Zion has missed this season.
Dec 13, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) lays the ball up against New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) in the second quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
The matchup on Saturday features two teams heading in opposite directions. New Orleans has won five of their last six games, while the Jazz have lost four straight games. Utah may be without its leading scorer and rebounder, Lauri Markkanen, who is day-to-day with hamstring soreness. Jazz center Walker Kessler is also questionable for the game. If neither player can go for Utah, it would be a major blow to the Jazz lineup.
Utah is No. 2 in the NBA in rebounding and No. 1 in offensive rebounds. The Jazz have outrebounded their opponent in 13 of their 15 games this season and rank No. 2 in the NBA in second-chance points (18.4).
The extra possessions allow the Jazz to remain in games to avoid their porous defensive play to start the season. Utah is No. 26 in the league in opponent points per game (122.5) and No. 27 in opponent field goal percentage (49.5%).
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been on a tear in the Pels recent hot streak. Ingram is averaging 26.7 points, five rebounds, and five assists during this stretch. Ingram had his career-high in points (49) against Utah in 2020, so B.I. has had success against the Jazz. If Williamson is out, expect a heavy load of Jonas Valanciunas in the paint against the Jazz's suspect interior defense.
New Orleans' defense is No. 1 in the NBA in opponent three-point percentage. Utah is a middle-of-the-road three-point shooting team, so limiting the extra possessions Utah gets on the glass can help the Pelicans gain an advantage offensively.
The Pelicans remain in Utah to face the same Jazz team again on Monday. They finally return home for a matchup Wednesday night against the reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.
