During a recent stretch, New Orleans represented the only NBA team that ranked in the top five at both ends of the floor. It took Tuesday’s everything-that-could-go-wrong performance at Utah to nudge the Pelicans out of top-five status offensively (114.5 points per 100 possessions, sixth among the 30 teams), but they remain third in defense (108.6 rating). New Orleans will try to produce a much better outcome Thursday (8 p.m. Central, Bally Sports, 99.5 FM) in a rematch against the Jazz, and avoid a season-series sweep vs. a club that’s been much better than NBA analysts predicted. At 16-14, the Jazz are eighth in the Western Conference and spoiled the Pelicans’ home opener Oct. 23, then rolled to a 121-100 verdict on Tuesday.
“We’ve got to step on the floor and understand that teams are going to come after us,” said Pelicans second-year head coach Willie Green, whose squad has been in first place in the West since Dec. 7. “I don’t think we were ready. We have to be better. I take full responsibility for that. Give (the Jazz) credit – they just kicked our butts (Tuesday).”
Utah stunned observers by starting the season 10-3, but went through a rough patch that raised some doubt about whether the Jazz could remain a plus.-500 team. However, veteran starting point guard Mike Conley was sidelined for all five games of a November losing streak; when Conley plays, Utah has gone 12-7 overall, but is just 4-7 without him.
Utah Scouting Report
Offensive efficiency rank: 3 (115.8)
Defensive efficiency rank: 22 (113.4)
Net rating: 8 (+2.4)
Streak: Won 1
Go-to guy: Former Chicago lottery pick Lauri Markkanen has responded extremely well to being a team’s No. 1 option for the first time in his six-year NBA career, coming off an excellent summer competing for Finland in EuroBasket. He’s averaging a team-best 22.1 points per game, pouring in 30-plus points five times, including 31 at New Orleans on Oct. 23, an OT victory for the Jazz. Markkanen is 17/33 from the field and 12/13 on free throws in the two wins over the Pelicans.
On the rise: Former New Orleans first-round pick Nickeil Alexander-Walker was a frequent DNP early in 2022-23, but has benefited from a dramatic surge in playing time lately. The guard from Toronto has five double-digit scoring games this season, with four of those taking place over the past eight days. In a second straight start Saturday, he racked up 27 points (5/10 three-point shooting) at Denver.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
NEW ORLEANS (18-9)
Tuesday loss at Utah
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: This group is 0-1, the eighth different starting lineup the Pelicans have used this season. … New Orleans saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday, the longest for the franchise since putting together 10 victories in a row in February/March 2018. … The next three New Orleans opponents all have winning records, including Saturday at Phoenix (16-12) and Monday vs. Milwaukee (20-7). … The Pelicans are 12-6 against the West, with two of those losses coming against the Jazz. The other defeats were vs. Phoenix, the Lakers, Portland and Memphis.
UTAH (16-14)
Tuesday win vs. New Orleans
Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, Jarred Vanderbilt
Notes: This group is 10-6, Utah’s most common starting group (there is a 3-6 combination featuring Collin Sexton at one of the guard spots instead of Conley). … The Jazz started the regular season 3-0 and also put together a four-game winning streak in early November. … The next three Utah opponents all have winning records, including Saturday at Milwaukee and Monday at Cleveland. … The Jazz are 14-9 against the West and 10-5 at home overall. Oddly, two of those five defeats in Vivint Arena were against East foes with losing records (Detroit, Chicago).
FanDuel Keys to the Game
SALT LAKE SPARK
New Orleans needs to play with more force, urgency and intensity than it did Tuesday (all elements that were in place and then some on the weekend in two home games vs. Phoenix). The Pelicans will benefit from a bounceback by their bench as well, though catalyst Jose Alvarado (ribs) won’t play Thursday. Utah’s reserves held a 60-39 scoring edge two days ago.
TAKE NOTE, BOX OUT
For a second straight game, offensive rebounding by the opponent was a major thorn in the sides of the Pelicans. Utah and Phoenix collected 19 O-boards apiece on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. In the latter instance, Vanderbilt tracked down eight of those, while rookie center Walker Kessler seized six.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Utah’s starting frontcourt of Markkanen, Olynyk and Vanderbilt has been a handful in two head-to-head games against New Orleans, combining for 66 points on Oct. 23, then 30 rebounds on Tuesday. New Orleans needs a quality Thursday effort from Murphy, Williamson and Valanciunas to break through against the Jazz.