The Jazz Make Plays to Fend Off Pelicans’ Surge

November 24th, 2019 | by David J Smith

Bogdanovic and Mitchell got the Jazz an early lead. (Melissa Majchrzak via espn.com)

In the 2019-20 season, there certainly have been no uninteresting games for the Utah Jazz and their fans. For the second night in a row, the Jazz saw a commanding lead evaporate quickly. And for the second consecutive evening, they managed to eke out another victory. Riding the heels of an impressive first half, Utah came out on top over a talented New Orleans Pelicans team, 128-120.

In the second half of the weekend’s back-to-back and minus their anchor in the middle, Rudy Gobert, the Jazz came out with a spirited energy that set the tone for the game. They jumped early on the more rested Pelicans, sporting an impressive 18-2 lead just barely three minutes into the contest. Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic, in particular, were stellar. Both players ably carried the offensive load, each tallying 20 or more points in the first half. When the second quarter horn sounded, Utah had a comfortable 74-54 lead. 

The second half was an entirely different story. Led by Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans displayed the offensive potency that makes them such a dangerous match-up. With a full cadre of tall, lanky players who can score, handle and facilitate, their versatility and quick pace enabled them to continually find good looks inside and out. Bombing away from the perimeter, New Orleans kept sawing away, eventually cutting the deficit to just four. 

But the Jazz managed to respond to most of the Pelicans’ runs. In a true team effort, several Jazzmen made instrumental plays in the fourth quarter that help Utah seal the 128-120 win. Mitchell finished the night with 37 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Bogdanovic, perhaps Utah’s most consistent player of the season, added a 28-5-5 stat line. 

Stat of the Game

After some ups and downs offensively this season, things are starting to feel more familiar for the Quin Snyder-led Jazz. Prime evidence: The Jazz assisted on 29 of their 42 field goals– a 69 assist percentage (19 of 25 in the first half– 76 percent). Coming into the tilt with New Orleans, they were sitting at a low 54 mark– a steep drop-off from last year’s eye-opening 64 percent. Things have been looking up of late. As the team continues to gel, expect for this to continue to climb.

Line of the Game

While the stars starred, third-year center Tony Bradley stepped up in a major way, filling in for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. After the latter tweaked his ankle Friday versus the Golden State Warriors, it was deemed best that he sit out the Pelicans game.

Enter Bradley. The youngster had his best outing of his young career. With 14 points, nine rebounds and one blocked shot in 22 minutes, Bradley looked confident and capable. He came out aggressively and contributed the Jazz’s torrid start. He was decisive when scoring opportunities arose and more than held his own on the boards. He even made some stout defensive stops. Bradley’s last basket was a key one, helping stall the Pelicans’ second half run.

While he spent his first two seasons largely toiling with the Salt Lake City Stars, Bradley is showing why the Jazz snagged him in the 2017 Draft. After Ed Davis got injured, he has had some ups and a few downs since assuming the back-up center role. The talent to be a good NBA player is there. There is a lot of work to do, but the youngest Jazzman seems have potential that could prove intriguing.

Decisive Moment

In the second half, it was the Pelicans who assumed the role of the aggressors. Simply put, they poured it on. A mixture of terrific 3-point shooting and successful iso plays helped New Orleans get right back in the game. With 3:08 left, Jrue Holiday scored on what was one of his many impressive forays to the hoop, cutting the lead to seven.

That’s when Mike Conley Jr. decided to leave his mark on the game. Utah’s point guard showed his leadership in the form of a pair of plays that helped his team maintain control. He astutely found Jeff Green for a quick alley-oop basket. After a much needed stop, Conley connected on a huge triple, giving the Jazz a 122-110 advantage. While the Pelicans eventually cut it to four, that mini stretch gave Utah the breathing room it desperately needed.

Highlight of the Game

Mitchell was doing Donovan things, as evidenced by the play of the night. We will simply leave this here.

Random Notes

  • Jeff Green has been a key contributor the past week. In the last four games, he is putting up 10.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 1.0 BPG. While his shot from the field has not been falling, one aspect of his game has been huge: his ability to get to the free throw line. During this stretch, Green has gone 20 of 24 from the charity stripe. Among the team’s rotation, the 13-year pro is second on the roster in free throw rate.
  • Emmanuel Mudiay is giving Utah some quality minutes off the bench. In the last two games, he is chipping in 10.5 PPG and 4.0 RPG in just 15.o MPG. Does he have flaws in his game? Yes, in the form of some occasional lapses in decision-making. But, overall, Mudiay has been impressive. His ability to get to the basket has been helpful for a second unit that has had its struggles. And he has never shot better in his career. Utah and Mudiay seems to be a good pairing. 

Next up

This Thanksgiving week, Utah heads off on one of its most difficult road trips of the season. Not only will it play five games in eight nights, but the lineup is also quite tough: Milwaukee, Indiana, Memphis again, Toronto and Philadelphia. It will put the Jazz’s mettle to the test. 

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