The New Orleans Pelicans (17-44) used a dominant late-game surge to secure a 128-121 win over the Utah Jazz (15-45) on Sunday night.
Kelly Olynyk led the Pelicans with a season-high 26 points and nine rebounds, while CJ McCollum added 25 points and eight assists. Zion Williamson finished with 24 points and nine assists, helping New Orleans snap its five-game losing streak in Salt Lake City.
Utah appeared to take control in the fourth quarter after Cody Williams’ three-pointer capped a 27-8 run, giving the Jazz a 100-94 lead. Oscar Tshiebwe fueled the surge with five baskets as Utah erased a 17-point deficit.
However, New Orleans responded with a decisive 15-0 run, highlighted by McCollum’s three straight three-pointers, reclaiming a 118-108 lead with 4:02 remaining. The Pelicans never trailed again.
Trey Murphy III contributed 20 points for New Orleans, which saw its top three scorers all shoot over 55% from the field. The Pelicans also recorded 35 assists while outrebounding Utah 48-41.
Keyonte George paced the Jazz with 28 points, while Brice Sensabaugh added 21. Tshiebwe recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
New Orleans dominated early, scoring on eight straight possessions spanning halftime to build a 74-57 lead in the third quarter. Williamson played a key role, scoring on four layups and assisting on two more baskets.
Utah, which was missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton, saw its comeback effort fall short in the final minutes. The Pelicans’ defensive pressure and clutch shot-making down the stretch secured their fifth straight win over the Jazz.
