The Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans both have winning records since their last meeting.
But both have been stumbling as of late heading into Tuesday night’s rematch in New Orleans.
The Pelicans beat visiting Utah 112-105 on Dec. 28 to start a stretch in which they have won eight of 12 games. However, New Orleans fell 123-109 to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
All four of the Pelicans’ losses during the recent 12-game stretch have come against Western Conference foes.
“We haven’t performed well against some of the better teams in the West,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “At least (over) the last 12 games.”
One of New Orleans’ wins came against Western Conference-leading Minnesota, but the only loss that was by fewer than 12 points was a five-point setback against Dallas, when the Pelicans trailed by as many as 16 points.
They also trailed by as many as 31 in a 16-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 5, by as many as 22 in a 12-point loss to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 12 and by as many as 30 against the Suns.
In addition to the three days off leading up to the contest against the Jazz, New Orleans will have two more days of rest following the Utah game before it faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday to complete a four-game-homestand.
“It allows us to get in the gym and work a bit more,” Green said of the time off.
The Pelicans made 10 of 42 3-point attempts (23.8 percent) against Phoenix, two nights after they made a franchise-record 25 treys on 47 attempts in a win against the Charlotte Hornets.
“When teams are physical with us,” Green said, “we have a tendency to get stagnant.”
Utah has won nine of 12 games since its loss to the Pelicans, but it has dropped its past two after a six-game winning streak. The streak ended with a 134-129 home loss against Oklahoma City on Thursday, which was followed by a 127-126 overtime setback at Houston on Saturday.
The Jazz had chances to win at the end of regulation and in the waning moments of overtime against the Rockets, but Collin Sexton missed a 3-pointer as time expired in the fourth quarter and Jordan Clarkson missed a midrange jumper at the end of the extra period.
“I will live and die with those two looks every time,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Those guys have proven they can make those shots over and over again.”
Clarkson called the loss in Houston, which started a six-game road trip, “a well-played game” despite coming up short.
“We’ve got to move on to the next one,” Clarkson said, “and try to get a win on this road trip.”
Utah can sweep the season series with a victory on Tuesday night. The Jazz won two games in three nights against the Pelicans in Salt Lake City — 105-100 on Nov. 25 and 114-112 on Nov. 27.
–Field Level Media
