The Pelicans have taken flight, and nothing can stop them! Not even a 25 point deficit. In a half-empty room in New Orleans, the Jazz attacked the meeting in the best possible way. Zion Williamson and Yves Missi absent, Walker Kessler does a monster job under the boards, and Utah leads 14-0 after three minutes!
Trey Murphy scores the first points for the Pelicans, then CJ McCollum is already warming his wrist, but rookies Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams insist, and the Jazz are up to 22 points ahead in this first quarter (37-15 ). Shooter Svi Mykhailiuk goes for the And-1 and at the start of the 2nd quarter, the gap reaches 25 points (46-21). Jordan Hawkins does good, like on this monster dunk slide. The Pelicans even come back to -15, before Kessler comes to punish again near the circle. At the break, Jazz leads by 20 points (69-49).
Returning from the locker room, the international pivot continues his demolition business, with his passes, but also his dunks, and the Jazz regains a 24-point lead (77-53). And then, suddenly, the Pelicans will get angry! McCollum cuts through the defense, and goes to score near the circle, and there are only nine points difference (86-77). Willie Green's players are 20-6 and it's not over!
Murray snatches extension
Hawkins alternates between dunk and 3-pointers, and Jose Alvarado gives the Pelicans the lead (90-89). Straddling the 3rd and 4th quarters, New Orleans is on a 20-3 lead, and the bench and the public are on their feet. On the Jazz side, don't panic, and the experienced Patty Mills launches a 9-3 to regain control (99-92). The match turns into a McCollum versus the rest of the world. The former Blazer is unleashed at 3-points but Kessler hangs on, and he gives a two-point lead on a tap (110-108). There are thirty seconds left to play and it is Murray who sends the two teams into overtime on a left-handed drive, despite the immense arms of Kessler.
In the extension, McCollum continues his festival, and he receives the support of Daniel Theis in the role of the garbage collector (116-111). But Jazz does not break, and Keyonte George brings his team back to unity (118-117). There are fifty seconds left, and everyone is standing, both benches and spectators. It was finally Murphy, in the corner, on a catch-and-shoot, who planted the banner of victory. Kessler's final efforts were in vain, and the Pelicans won 123-119.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
The Jazz master of painting. You can lose matches by dominating with your head and broad shoulders in the racket. The proof with the Jazz who took 63 rebounds against 45, and scored 60 points in the paint. Thanks to the Kessler-Filipowski pair, the Jazz scored 23 points after offensive rebounds. But that's not enough.
Franchise record. The Pelicans have never won after being down by 25 points in a game. The biggest comeback in the history of the franchise dated from 2021 with a success against the Celtics after recovering from a 24-point outlay.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
