Pelicans 136-123 Jazz (Jan 17, 2025) Game Recap

NEW ORLEANS — — Zion Williamson highlighted a 24-point, 14-rebound performance with a series of thunderous dunks during a dominant fourth-quarter stretch, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 136-123 on Friday night to open a two-game set.

The teams meet again in New Orleans on Monday night.

CJ McCollum made his first five 3-pointers en route to 26 points, and the Pelicans got 19 points apiece from Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III en route to their third straight win and fourth in five games.

Keyonte George scored 26 points for Utah and Collin Sexton had 24. The Jazz (10-30) have lost five of six and have the fewest wins in the Western Conference, one behind the Pelicans (11-32).

New Orleans led by 26 when Daniel Theis’ 3-pointer made it 50-24 early in the second quarter. But Utah outscored New Orleans 28-11 the rest of the period and made it 61-52 at halftime before the Pelicans pulled away for good in the second half.

Takeaways

Jazz: Forward Lauri Markkanen missed his third straight game with lower back spasms, adding to a long injury list that also includes Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) and John Collins (left hip). That made it difficult for Utah to stay with a Pelicans team that is getting healthier and playing better.

Pelicans: Rookie center Yves Missi sat out with a non-COVID illness. Theis started for him and had his best game this season, scoring 18 points — including a pair of 3s — and grabbing eight rebounds. Reserve rookie center Karlo Matkovic saw his first action in five games and blocked two shots.

Key moment

Williamson scored nine points in the first 3:48 of the fourth quarter, highlighted by his explosive driving dunk over center Drew Eubanks and his soaring alley-oop jam off Murphy’s lob, giving New Orleans a 111-90 lead.

Key state

New Orleans made a season-high 22 3-pointers and finished 22 of 50 (44%) from deep.

——

AP NBA: