Jazz Edge Pelicans 120-119 After Darryn Peterson’s Late Free Throws

Peterson delivers in the final minute

The Utah Jazz held off the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 on Friday night at the Delta Center, earning their first victory of the season after a frantic fourth quarter. Rookie Darryn Peterson scored 15 points and supplied the decisive margin by making two free throws with 50.5 seconds remaining, according to Reuters and the NBA’s official game page. ^{[1] [2]}

New Orleans had one final opportunity, but Dejounte Murray missed a potential game-winning jumper with about one second left. The result moved Utah to 1-1 and dropped the Pelicans to 0-2, while ending an eight-game New Orleans winning streak in the series that dated to November 2023. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Utah with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Keyonte George added 19 points and 10 assists, Jaxson Hayes scored 17 off the bench and Lauri Markkanen finished with 16. Zion Williamson paced New Orleans with 23 points, reserve Saddiq Bey scored 20 and Murray added 16. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

A 15-point lead disappears, then Utah responds

Utah controlled the paint early, scoring 22 of its 31 first-quarter points inside. The Jazz used a 9-0 second-quarter run to build a 40-30 advantage and never trailed before halftime, then stretched the margin to 67-52 early in the third quarter on a Markkanen three-pointer. ^{[1] [2]}

The Pelicans answered by scoring on 10 consecutive possessions. Murray’s reverse layup gave New Orleans its first lead at 75-74, and a 38-point third quarter transformed the game. Back-to-back baskets by Bennedict Mathurin and Bey later pushed the Pelicans ahead 99-94 in the fourth. ^{[1] [3]}

George helped turn the game again. His three-pointer and subsequent assist to Hayes completed a 15-3 Utah run that produced a 109-102 lead with 5:35 remaining. New Orleans closed the gap, but Peterson’s free throws and Murray’s miss preserved the Jazz victory. ^{[1] [2]}

Missi injury adds concern for New Orleans

Pelicans center Yves Missi left with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter after suffering a left knee injury. He could not put weight on his left leg as he was helped to the locker room, Reuters reported. Missi had scored six points on 3-for-3 shooting in nine minutes; the team had not announced a diagnosis or timetable after the game. ^{[1] [3]}

The narrow result gave Utah a response to its 123-103 opening loss at Memphis, when it committed 18 turnovers and was outrebounded 55-38. New Orleans, meanwhile, has lost its first two games by a combined four points after falling 123-120 to Indiana in its opener. The Pelicans’ next priority is determining Missi’s status while Utah prepares to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. ^{[1] [3] [4]}