Game ID: 22300424
Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 39 20 22 31 112UTA 37 14 25 29 105
NOP vs UTA ScoutingNOP vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 14 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 15 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 16 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 17 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/29, returns tonight: 25 min (125% of 20)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 18 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hawkins missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 19 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 25 min since (125% of 20)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 20 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Murphy III missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 21 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 17 min since (102% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Murphy III missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 17 min (55% of 30)
OUT Ryan missed 22 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 17)
UTA availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT George missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 26 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/13 after 8, 27 min since (82% of 33)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 20 min since (73% of 28)
BACK Juzang back 12/16 after 7, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Potter back 12/14 after 7, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Agbaji 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Clarkson missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT George missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 27 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/13 after 8, 29 min since (88% of 33)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 21 min since (77% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 28 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 6 since 12/13, returns tonight: 30 min (99% of 31)
OUT George missed 5 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 28 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Olynyk 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 29 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 6 since 12/14, returns tonight: 24 min (90% of 27)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 29 since 10/27, returns tonight: 2 min (11% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 5 since 12/16, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 11)
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 30 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 25 min since (90% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 12/21, returns tonight: 6 min (31% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 29 min since (93% of 31)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 24 min since (85% of 28)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 24 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Sensabaugh back 12/26 after 29, 2 min since (11% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 11)
UTA availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Juzang missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (88% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 23 min since (85% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
BACK Sensabaugh back 12/26 after 29, 2 min since (11% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 11)
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 26 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 12/30, returns tonight: 12 min (61% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Nance Jr. (13 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 119, Utah 114.
12/19 vs MEM 113-115 — NOP notes
NOP lost 113-115. NOP shot 47% (40 of 85) to MEM's 50%, 11 of 25 from three. NOP turned it over 11 times to MEM's 17. Ingram led with 34 (11 of 18, 11 of 12 at the line); Valančiūnas added 22, McCollum 18. Q2 was theirs, 39-16, turning a 4-point deficit into a 19-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 99-74 against them. They led by as many as 24. Williamson's -13 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ CLE 123-104 — NOP notes
NOP won 123-104. NOP shot 55% (47 of 86) to CLE's 47%, 15 of 35 from three, and went to the line 16 times to CLE's 8 — 14 points from the stripe to their 5. Murphy III led with 28 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three); McCollum added 18, Ingram 17. The hinge was Q1, 36-28: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Robinson-Earl was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/23 vs HOU 104-106 — NOP notes
NOP lost 104-106. NOP shot 46% (38 of 82) to HOU's 43%, 8 of 31 from three, and got to the line 29 times to HOU's 35. NOP turned it over 16 times to HOU's 11, and HOU turned those into 9 steals. Williamson led with 28 (11 of 16, 5 of 10 at the line); Ingram added 19, Murphy III 14. Q2 was theirs, 27-21, turning a 2-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 85-77 against them. Jones's -13 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs MEM 115-116 — NOP notes
NOP lost 115-116 in 1 overtime. NOP shot 43% (42 of 97) to MEM's 43%, 10 of 31 from three. Ingram led with 24 (9 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Williamson added 23, Valančiūnas 17. Q2 was theirs, 29-19, turning a 5-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 97-86 against them. They led by as many as 15. McCollum's -9 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs UTA 112-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-105. NOP shot 55% (45 of 82) to UTA's 42%, 10 of 27 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 25. Ingram led with 26 (9 of 18, 7 of 7 at the line); McCollum added 22, Williamson 21. The hinge was Q2, 20-14: a lead of 2 became 8. Nance Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Hawkins (3 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 31 and James at 25 a game. Without Vincent (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 43 percent from three to New Orleans's 36 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it New Orleans 117, the Lakers 112.
1/02 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 32 free throws a game; Bridges at 19 and Cam. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simmons (26 straight), Walker IV (15 straight), Clowney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Brooklyn's 121 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 31. Call it New Orleans 119, Brooklyn 112.
1/03 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 34 and Towns at 16 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murphy III (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to Minnesota's 111 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 14. Call it Minnesota 112, New Orleans 110, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/05 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Clippers 111.
12/20 @ CLE 116-124 — UTA notes
UTA lost 116-124. UTA shot 51% (40 of 78) to CLE's 47%, 13 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to CLE's 16 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. UTA turned it over 16 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 8 steals. Markkanen led with 26 (8 of 18, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Sexton added 20, Horton-Tucker 19. Q3 was theirs, 37-30, turning a 6-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-79 against them. Agbaji's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ DET 119-111 — UTA notes
UTA won 119-111. UTA shot 46% (43 of 94) to DET's 50%, 11 of 30 from three. UTA turned it over 12 times to DET's 20. Olynyk led with 27 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Sexton added 19, Agbaji 18. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: a lead of 2 became 8. Kessler was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/23 @ TOR 126-119 — UTA notes
UTA won 126-119. UTA shot 53% (48 of 91) to TOR's 48%, 17 of 38 from three. Markkanen led with 30 (12 of 21, 4 of 10 from three); Clarkson added 30, Sexton 16. The hinge was Q4, 41-21: UTA came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 7. UTA trailed 55-71 at the half and won the second half 71-48. Clarkson was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/26 @ SAS 130-118 — UTA notes
UTA won 130-118. UTA shot 49% (47 of 95) to SAS's 45%, 16 of 43 from three. UTA turned it over 14 times to SAS's 9, and SAS turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 53-43 for them. Markkanen led with 31 (12 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Clarkson added 24, Sexton 20. The hinge was Q2, 37-28: UTA came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 20. Fontecchio was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/28 @ NOP 105-112 — UTA notes
UTA lost 105-112. UTA shot 42% (36 of 85) to NOP's 55%, 12 of 39 from three, and went to the line 25 times to NOP's 15 — 21 points from the stripe to their 12. Sexton led with 26 (8 of 17, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Markkanen added 24, Kessler 11. Q3 was theirs, 25-22, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. George's -13 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 28 and Clarkson at 21 a game. Without Juzang (6 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Butler III (4 straight), Richardson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 109 a night to Utah's 117. Call it Utah 116, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
1/01 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 21 a game. Without Hendricks (2 straight), Juzang (7 straight), Sensabaugh (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 42 and Hardaway Jr. at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Irving (12 straight), Kleber (25 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-4 and the arc, Dallas at 40 percent from three to Utah's 35. Call it Utah 119, Dallas 118, Dallas keeping it close.
1/03 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Clarkson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (3 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (8 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Bogdanović at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Stewart (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Utah allowing 110 a night to Detroit's 127 and the line, where Detroit takes 29 free throws a game to Utah's 21. Call it Utah 122, Detroit 113.
1/05 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 28 and Tatum at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Hendricks (4 straight), Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 122, Utah 116.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
OA O. Agbaji
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Horton-Tucker
WK W. Kessler
NOP/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III hit clutch baskets, Pelicans hold off Jazz 112-105
NEW ORLEANS -- — Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III made clutch shots from outside, Larry Nance Jr . provided intensity in the paint and the Pelicans broke their habit of falling apart at the end of close games.
Ingram highlighted a 26-point performance with a momentum-turning 3-pointer inside the final three minutes, and the New Orleans Pelicans held on for a 112-105 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
“It just felt like more grit, more scrap,” said Nance, who returned from a rib injury that had sidelined him for 13 games. “It didn’t feel like we were wasting clock, playing not to lose.”
The strong finish was a relief for the Pelicans, whose last three losses were by two points or less — two of them after blowing double-digit leads in the second half at home.
“We were executing and scoring,” Nance said of the final minutes. “They can’t guard us, so why would we let off the gas?”
Ingram's 3 gave New Orleans a 102-98 lead. Soon after, Dyson Daniels went to the floor to grab a loose ball and and delivered a clever bounce pass between Lauri Markkanen 's legs to the perimeter, where Murphy, who'd missed his first six shots, made his first of the game from 3-point range. Nance followed that with a cutting dunk on a feed from Zion Williamson to make it 107-100.
Utah was within 109-105 on Markkanen's free throws with 38 seconds left before Murphy put it away with another 3 with 18 seconds to go.
“He’s resilient," Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Murphy. "That was a growth moment for him. He just stuck with it.”
Williamson had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double and fifth of the season as the Pelicans outscored the Jazz 62-42 in the paint. CJ McCollum added 22 points for New Orleans, which snapped a two-game skid.
“We're figuring it out,” Williamson said. “Depending on the night and what matchups we like, I think we'll attack that.”
Collin Sexton scored 26 points for Utah, which had won its previous three during a five-game trip that ended in New Orleans. Markkanen had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz. Walker Kessler hit all five of his shots and finished with 11 points while Jordan Clarkson had 10 points.
“We seemed a little bit sluggish with our decision-making, probably a little bit of over-dribbling by the whole team tonight. The ball wasn't moving as early and often as it has been recently,” Utah coach Will Hardy said, also making note of his team's 17 turnovers. “I would really give the Pelicans a lot of credit. They made some big plays down the stretch.”
But Hardy did not want to lose sight of Utah's recent improvement.
“I want the team to feel — to be upset about losing for sure tonight, but I think overall to feel pretty good about where they're at as a team," Hardy said. “We've been playing much better basketball the last three weeks.”
McCollum had 14 points in the first half, when he hit four 3s.
Nance finished with nine points, seven rebounds, five steals and a block in 25 minutes. His cutting dunk gave New Orleans its largest lead of the game at 57-46 in the second quarter.
“Having Larry back was huge for us. That’s the Larry we’re all accustomed to," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He worked his tail off to get himself ready to come in and play and be who he is to this team.”
Markkanen's 3 and Kelly Olynyk 's putback helped Utah cut it to 59-51 at halftime.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Miami on Saturday night.
Pelicans: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.