Finally.
After five straight losses, the Utah Jazz closed their four-game road trip with a much-needed 106-94 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
The Jazz improved to 29-33 and now sit just one game behind the Houston Rockets (who lost to Chicago tonight) for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Derrick Favors led the way with 28 points, while Gordon Hayward added 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Rodney Hood, Shelvin Mack and Trevor Booker scored 11 points each in the win.
Anthony Davis (29 points on only 11-for-31 shooting) and Jrue Holiday (22 points off the bench) were the only players to score in double figures for the Pelicans (23-38).
Saturday's Best
Favors drilled an 18-foot jumper on Utah’s first possession of the game, and he rolled from there, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal and six blocks. He was all over the floor and once again dominated his head-to-head matchup with Davis. In three games against the Pelicans this season, Favors has averaged 26.3 points on 65.3 percent shooting.
Key Stretch
After a 3-pointer by Davis tied the game at 70-70 with 2:48 left in the third quarter, the Jazz responded with a decisive 14-0 run to close the period and all but seal the victory. Favors and Hayward—who started the run with a circus shot in traffic—scored six points each during that stretch, and Booker capped it off with a two-handed slam.
Significant Stat
+21
The Jazz cleaned up on the glass, outrebounding the Pelicans 53-32. Rudy Gobert grabbed 18 rebounds for the second straight game.
Coach's Quote of the Night
Notable
The Jazz went 26-for-27 (96.3 percent) from the free-throw line. ... Hood has now hit a 3-pointer in 33 straight games, a streak that dates back to December 30. … Utah led by as many as 18 points. … Eric Gordon (New Orleans’ starting shooting guard) refractured the ring finger on his right (shooting) hand in the second quarter. This was Gordon’s fourth game back after missing 16 games with the same injury.
Up Next
The Jazz will return home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT, and the game will be televised on ROOT SPORTS.