New Orleans Pelicans awards: Pelicans fall to Jazz 101-87

Though the season is only 15 games in, the former University of Kentucky star has already been forced to miss three games due to injuries.

The New Orleans Pelicans have won their last two games and seem to be headed down the right path after a 1-11 start.

“I’ve got to defend better, I’ve got to rebound more, I’ve got to block more shots, set more picks to get guys open and finish whenever I get the ball”, he said.

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry drew a technical for arguing the play since it appeared Paul initiated the contact and Davis was called for the foul. In Evans’ absence Luke Babbitt, Dante Cunningham and Alonzo Gee have shared the small forward spot and have not done much with it. All three of them have PER’s below 10 so getting Evans back, even if it is on a minutes limit, will be a big help for the Pelicans. “The last four games have been the same way – a bad third quarter and then we came back in the fourth (quarter) with more energy, more intensity”. Despite a few late runs, this one was never really in doubt with the New Orleans Pelicans falling to the Utah Jazz 101-87. For the game, they outscored the Pelicans 28-14. The Jazz defense was super stingy all night, holding the Pelicans to just 60 points at the end of three quarters. However, they were held to an 8-of-26 success rate (30.8 percent) on 3-pointers…. It is the third consecutive win for the Pelicans (4-11) and their first road win of the season. We are just trying to find a way to win. In one of the more interesting door giveaways, the Jazz gave fans attending Saturday’s game a bamboo pot, seeds and peat pellets as part of the organization’s “Green Team” festivities. New Orleans was outrebounded 49-35 and had just four offensive rebounds.

“It’s not the loss that matters the most, but how it happened and the approach that we had”, Gentry said.

Given that Davis should return to action soon – he was listed as questionable to return and actually spent the final minutes of the game on the bench- the story of this game can remain the Clippers’ looking full of life, particularly the starting lineup. Tobias Harris had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help Orlando stop a two-game losing streak. Hood and Burke both played despite dealing with back spasms. Clippers F Blake Griffin was the league-leader with five….

Snyder said he likes Booker in his role coming off the bench, which is why he started rookie Trey Lyles in place of injured Rudy Gobert on the recent road trip. Anthony Davis looked like the only competent National Basketball Association player on the floor tonight, as New Orleans couldn’t hit anything outside of a two footer and a free throw. After getting the deficit down to seven Utah pushed it back out to 18 behind Trey Burke and Alec Burks.