Pelicans Rally Past Jazz 120-113 in OT for 4th Straight Win as Zion Scores 23, Saddiq Bey Closes

The New Orleans Pelicans trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter. They escaped regulation by a fraction of a second and fell behind by six early in overtime. They still beat the Utah Jazz 120-113 on Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center for their fourth straight win.

New Orleans is 4-4 after an 0-4 start. Utah fell to 1-7 and has lost six straight. The Jazz’s only win was a 120-119 home victory over these same Pelicans on Oct. 23.

The shot that came too late

Utah led 80-70 after three quarters. Derik Queen, who scored 18 of his 20 points after halftime, led the Pelicans’ comeback. His layup capped a 12-0 run that gave New Orleans an 88-87 lead.

The finish was wild. New Orleans led by four with 1:46 left, but Lauri Markkanen made two 3-pointers and two free throws in the closing minutes to put Utah back in front. Then Zion Williamson scored, and Dejounte Murray made two free throws to tie it with 6.4 seconds left. Utah cleared out for Keyonte George, who swished a jumper from the left side. NOLA.com reported that he released it a fraction of a second after the buzzer, so it didn’t count.

How the Pelicans won in overtime

George opened overtime with back-to-back 3s for a 110-104 Jazz lead. Then Utah went more than four minutes without scoring.

New Orleans scored on seven straight possessions. Williamson and Saddiq Bey made back-to-back layups. Jeremiah Fears tied it with a putback. Bey followed with two free throws, a layup and a jumper in the lane, and Williamson added two free throws. Bey scored eight of his 22 points in overtime.

“Your defense allows you to stay in games,” Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley said, according to NOLA.com. “Our defense sustained us, and we put it together down the stretch.”

Zion Williamson’s second half

Williamson missed all four of his shots in the first half and went to halftime scoreless. He scored all 23 of his points after the break, including 11 straight New Orleans points in the third quarter. “He never let the first half get to him,” Mosley said.

Jazz vs. Pelicans player stats

Murray was back after missing three games following the birth of his son. Free throws decided the game. New Orleans went 39-of-43 at the line while making only 5 of 20 3-pointers. Utah went 20-of-30 on free throws. The Pelicans’ bench outscored Utah’s 51-29.

What’s next

New Orleans opens NBA Cup play Friday at 7 p.m. CT at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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