Jazz edge Pelicans 120-119 as Jaren Jackson Jr. scores 24 and rookie Darryn Peterson hits go-ahead free throws

The Utah Jazz got their first win of the season the hard way. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points with 10 rebounds, rookie Darryn Peterson made the go-ahead free throws with 50.5 seconds left, and Utah held off the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 on Friday night, Oct. 23, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Utah is now 1-1. New Orleans fell to 0-2 and has given up a second-half lead in both of its games, the Associated Press reported. The win also ended Utah’s eight-game losing streak against the Pelicans.

How the final minute played out

The Pelicans led for much of the fourth quarter before Peterson’s two free throws put Utah back in front. New Orleans had chances to answer, but the officials upheld a charging foul on Zion Williamson, and Dejounte Murray missed a pull-up jumper just before the final buzzer, according to the AP.

Jackson had nine of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, along with a big block on Williamson. It was a meaningful night for him: the AP noted he played only three games for Utah last season after being traded from Memphis, because of surgery to remove a growth in his left knee.

Score by quarter

Utah led by as many as 15 in the first half. Murray, who was scoreless before halftime, scored the first 12 of his 16 points during a 31-13 run that erased that lead, and he had three of the Pelicans’ eight third-quarter steals. New Orleans took a 90-86 lead into the fourth.

Box score leaders

From the NBA’s official box score.

Saddiq Bey was efficient off the bench for New Orleans, going 8 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Jordan Poole and Derik Queen added 12 points each.

How did Darryn Peterson play?

The rookie guard scored 15 points in just under 30 minutes, shooting 6 of 12 from the field, 1 of 2 from 3-point range and 2 of 2 at the line, per the official box. Both of those free throws came at the biggest moment of the game.

Pelicans injury: Yves Missi

New Orleans starting center Yves Missi hurt his left knee in the second quarter and had to be helped to the locker room. With 6:30 left in the half, Jaxson Hayes blocked a driving shot by Williamson, who then fell into Missi’s leg, the AP said. Missi did not return and was set to be re-evaluated Saturday. He had six points on 3-of-3 shooting in about nine minutes.

By the numbers

• Points in the paint: Pelicans 64, Jazz 54
• Turnovers: Pelicans 15, Jazz 18
• Steals: Pelicans 15, Jazz 4
• 3-pointers: Jazz 13 of 35, Pelicans 8 of 26
• Lead changes: 6, with 5 ties
• Attendance: 17,867, a sellout

What’s next

• Pelicans: visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
• Jazz: host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in the return of former Jazz center Walker Kessler.

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