The New Orleans Pelicans should be feeling good proper now. How may they not? The Pels are winners of three in a row and 6 of their final 9 and appear to be a totally completely different workforce in January. The Utah Jazz had been the final to see how completely different they had been. After a 136-123 loss Friday night time, the Pelicans will search for a two-game sweep Monday on the Smoothie King Middle.
It is simple to see what has been the principle driver of the workforce’s latest success…the return of Zion Williamson.
Since getting back from a hamstring damage earlier this month, Zion has introduced a spark that had been lacking all season. His numbers in Friday’s win over Utah had been downright ridiculous: 24 factors, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in simply 23 minutes of play.
Zion’s presence on the courtroom adjustments the whole lot, a lot in order that Pelicans followers started to entertain the potential of the workforce righting the ship and making the play-in match. His means to break down defenses clears the way in which for everybody else, and the Pelicans shooters profit from it. Since January 1, the Pelicans rank fourth within the NBA in three-pointers tried and made. It is a main change for a workforce that struggled to achieve the highest 30 makes an attempt per recreation in October and November.
| October. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Season | |
| 3AP/Recreation | 31.2 | 32.8 | 35.7 | 41.8 | 35.6 |
| 3 p.m./Thu | 10.8 | 10.8 | 12.1 | 15.3 | 12.2 |
| Complete 15h | 54 | 162 | 157 | 153 | 526 |
However it’s not nearly Zion. New Orleans additionally noticed contributions up and down the roster. Treey Murphy and CJ McCollum every had their moments as scorers. Jose Alvarado is again to being a spark plug for the second unit, Dejounte Murray is enjoying his greatest basketball of the season and the workforce is not a joke on the defensive finish. The Pelicans are additionally rising their physicality on the glass. Friday’s recreation was an ideal instance of that, as New Orleans outscored Utah 56-40 and dominated second-chance factors 35-8.
In fact, the Jazz won’t flip round. Utah, though severely undermanned, fought again Friday from a 26-point deficit to chop the result in six within the second half earlier than New Orleans put the sport away. Isaiah Collier was a vibrant spot for Utah, racking up 11 assists off the bench within the loss.
For the Pelicans, it’s about conserving the momentum going. Willie Inexperienced has preached consistency for his workforce, and with Zion nonetheless on a restricted workload (25.6 minutes per recreation since his return), the remainder of the workforce might want to keep locked in.
However even with out Zion and Yves Missi, this workforce is discovering its rhythm. The ball strikes, the three drops and the arrogance grows. One other win towards the Jazz would lengthen the Pelicans’ longest successful streak this season to 4 video games, their first four-game successful streak since April 7-12 of final yr.
Most up-to-date beginning lineups
| Utah Jazz | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Collin Sexton | G – Dejounte Murray |
| G – Keyonte George | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – Svi Mykhailiuk | F-Trey Murphy |
| F-Cody Williams | F-Zion Williamson |
| C – Drew Eubanks | C-Yves Missi |
Accidents
Utah Jazz: Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis), John Collins (left hip damage administration), Taylor Hendricks (proper fibula fracture), Johnny Juzang (proper hand fracture), Lauri Markkanen (decrease again spasms), and Collin Sexton (relaxation) are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Dejounte Murray (proper elbow bursitis) is PROBABLE. Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Herb Jones (proper shoulder sprain), Yves Missi (non-Covid sickness) and Zion Williamson (non-Covid sickness) are OUT.
WHO: New Orleans Pelicans (11-32) vs. Utah Jazz (10-30)
Season Collection:
Historical past of the collection: The New Orleans Pelicans are 29-48 towards the Utah Jazz and have received three straight towards them.
Or: Smoothie King Middle
When: January 20, 7:00 p.m. CST
The place to look at: Gulf Coast Sports activities and Leisure Community, Pelicans+
The place to pay attention: WWL Radio 870 AM
For extra content material, go to Sports activities HITP on YouTube or Sports activities HITP on-line.
