Jazz (8-7), Pelicans (4-13)
SALT LAKE CITY – Winning road games in the Western Conference is a difficult task under any circumstances, but it becomes nearly impossible without multiple players performing well for the visiting team. On Saturday, Anthony Davis produced one of his best statistical games of the season, but didn’t get nearly enough support, resulting in a second straight road loss for New Orleans to close its three-game trip. Aside from Davis’ 36-point performance featuring 12-for-18 shooting from the field, the rest of the Pelicans went 17-for-51 (33.3 percent). New Orleans now heads home to face Memphis on Tuesday, with the hopes of seeing the return from injury of Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
New Orleans had two empty possessions after cutting its deficit to just six points, leading to Utah regaining command and taking a 94-84 lead with 2:54 remaining. The Jazz were up big early in the fourth quarter, before the Pelicans gradually made things a bit interesting, but it was too late.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Davis was aggressive offensively right from tip-off, scoring 14 of his team’s 16 first-quarter points. He also had nine points in the second period, meaning he accounted for 22 of the visitors’ 39 points prior to intermission. Davis compiled his fourth game of 30-plus points this season and added 11 rebounds and three blocks. Davis shot 12/18 from the field and 12/15 from the foul line.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Alonzo Gee was the only starter besides Davis to score in the first half and provided his usual dose of energy on a night when the Pelicans definitely needed it. Gee finished with eight points, two rebounds and two assists. Dante Cunningham also was a catalyst at times, notching five points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.
