The Utah Jazz brought out the best in the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
The Pelicans made a season-high 22 shots from 3-point range on their way to their most points in a game and season-best margin of victory in their 136-123 win over the Jazz.
They will try to continue their recent run of success when the teams meet at New Orleans again Monday night.
The Pelicans have won a season-best three in a row, four of their last five games and six of nine.
They tied a season-high with 50 attempts from 3-point range against Utah, matching the total from a victory Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls. They surpassed the previous season high of 18 made shots from distance in a Jan. 10 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Head coach Willie Green said increased 3-point volume and efficiency is one of “the concepts that we want to implement with our team.”
“We’re staying consistent,” Green said. “Our message is the same. Our guys are doing a great job of buying in. I think the biggest concept for us is we’re getting healthy, and these guys have had time on the floor together.
Zion Williamson had 24 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in 23 minutes against Utah.
It was just the fourth game Williamson has played in since returning from a 27-game absence due to a hamstring strain. Since his return, he has missed three games — one due to a suspension for being late for a team flight and the other two because they were on the back end of back-to-backs as he continues to work his way into top form.
“It’s what he’s capable of doing night in and night out (with) his ability to rebound, his ability to pass,” Green said of Williamson. “I think he was solid defensively.”
Williamson was the only double-figure rebounder in a game in which New Orleans out-rebounded the Jazz 56-40, including a 21-7 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to a 35-8 edge in second-chance points.
“It’s hard to win when those numbers are that skewed,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “They end up getting 14 more shots than us (100-86), and the math is against you if you can’t rebound the ball a group.”
Hardy was encouraged that his team fought back from a 26-point deficit in the second quarter to get as close as six points before fading in the second half. Utah center Drew Eubanks gave the team a lift with 17 points and seven rebounds.
“Drew is incredibly special,” Hardy said. “His teammates love him because he does a lot of the dirty work. He sets screens and rebounds.”
Another bright spot was rookie guard Isaiah Collier, who had a season-high 11 assists off the bench, topping the 10 he had Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. Still, the Jazz have lost five of six.
“This is the part of the season where people start to drift and your focus starts to drift and your energy can start to drift,” Hardy said. “Everybody starts talking about this time of year like, ‘Oh we’re tired and the All-Star break is sort of in sight,’ and that’s not something we’re going to give in to.”
–Field Level Media
