Joel Bartilotta
RotoWire
Buddy Hield hit four consecutive 3-pointers late but it wasn’t enough as the Utah Jazz hung on for a 79-72 victory Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Las Vegas Summer League at Cox Pavilion.
Hield’s barrage of 3-pointers salvaged a tough shooting day as he went 2-for-12 from deep otherwise, and it brought the Pelicans to within one, 71-70, with 2:23 remaining. That’s as close as the Pelicans would get, however, as the Jazz rattled off eight straight points without the Pelicans scoring again until a David Lighty Jr. putback at the buzzer.
Neither team shot well, with the Jazz hitting 36 percent from the field and the Pelicans managing 38.8 percent. But Utah (1-1) avoided costly mistakes, committed only five turnovers.
Tyrone Wallace led all five Utah starters in double figures with 15 points. Joel Bolomboy totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds and Marcus Paige, Quincy Ford and Tibor Pleiss each scored 10 points. Spencer Butterfield had 11 points off the bench.
Hield finished with 21 points to lead New Orleans (0-2). Chieck Diallo totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Lightly had 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
The Pelicans play the Sacramento Kings on Monday. The Jazz face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
