NBA Game Preview - Utah at New Orleans
Mon Jan 6, 2020 8:00 PM EST

IND
115
CHA
104
F
BOS
94
WAS
99
F
OKC
113
PHI
120
F
BKN
89
ORL
101
F
DEN
123
ATL
115
F
UTA
128
NO
126
F
MIL
104
SA
126
F
CHI
110
DAL
118
F
GS
98
SAC
111
F
Jazz take 5-game win streak to New Orleans
Mon Jan 6, 2020 1:11 PM

The Utah Jazz are among the best defensive teams in the NBA.

But they have shown they can lean on their offense when they need to as they prepare to visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

When they hosted the Pelicans on Nov. 23, two-time reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was sidelined by a sprained ankle, so the Jazz scored a season-high in points in a 128-120 victory.

Donovan Mitchell had a season-high 37 in that game, and he had 32 in a 109-96 victory against Orlando on Saturday.

After making eight 3-pointers through the first three quarters, they made the same number in the fourth quarter.

"I told the team," coach Quin Snyder said, "if the defense is solid, you give yourself a chance and eventually guys will get going."

The guy most responsible for getting the offense going is point guard Mike Conley, but he has been sidelined by a hamstring injury. In his absence, Joe Ingles has been filling that role, helping the Jazz win five in a row and 10 of their past 11 games.

"I think I'd rather have assists than points to be honest with you," Ingles said. "I couldn't care less about scoring. I feel like my role on the team is to get other guys involved.

"My only focus going in is defensively who I'm matched up on and trying to get all these guys easy shots. The more I can do to get them easy looks or easy shots, that's what I'm out there to do."

The Pelicans have won five of their last six games after splitting a set of back-to-back games in California. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 123-113 on Friday before getting a last-second 117-115 victory against the Sacramento Kings the following night.

Point guard Lonzo Ball had back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his three-year career going into the game at Sacramento. He made it three in a row when he scored 15 fourth-quarter points to finish with 24 against the Kings.

"I know how to play the game of basketball," said Ball, who was slowed by a groin injury earlier in the season. "For me, it's just making sure my body is good -- it feels good right now. I'm getting healthier and my confidence is where it is supposed to be."

The Pelicans prevailed against the Kings when JJ Redick scored on a layup with 1.1 seconds left.

Rookie Zion Williamson participated in his first full practice before the Pelicans left for their brief road trip, though New Orleans has not set a date for his return from arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 21.

"You look at the standings after that game and we're three back from the eight seed," Redick said. "So we're fighting for our lives. Hopefully with Zion coming back and the way we played over the last couple of weeks, I think we're turning in the right direction. We are all real excited to get him back for sure."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Utah  
New Orleans  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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