Brandon Ingram, Pelicans hang on for win over Jazz

Field Level Media|published: Thu 28th December, 22:37 2023

Dec 28, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dunks against Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) during the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. credits: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Ingram scored 26 points to lead three New Orleans players with 20-plus points as the host Pelicans held off the Utah Jazz 112-105 on Thursday night.

CJ McCollum added 22 points and Zion Williamson had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Pelicans, who had lot three of their previous four games.

Collin Sexton scored 26, Lauri Markkanen had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, whose three-game winning streak ended. Utah's Walker Kessler scored 11 and Jordan Clarkson added 10.

The Pelicans led by eight points at halftime and increased the margin to 10 twice early in the third quarter.

Sexton scored seven straight points during a 14-2 run that gave the Jazz a 67-65 lead.

Ingram logged 12 points in the period and New Orleans built an 81-76 lead entering the final quarter.

Williamson made consecutive baskets to increase the lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter, and the Pelicans were up 99-90 with 5:29 left before Utah made a push.

Sexton and Kris Dunn made 3-pointers and Kessler dunked to trim the lead to one before Ingram answered with a 3-pointer.

Dunn made another field goal, but the Pelicans' Trey Murphy III hit a 3-pointer, his first field goal after missing his first six shots, and Larry Nance Jr. added a dunk for a 107-100 lead with 1:27 remaining.

In the first quarter, Ingram converted a three-point play and Naji Marshall scored seven straight points during a 10-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 29-20 lead.

Keyonte George sank a 3-pointer to end the run, and the Jazz pulled within three points four times.

Williamson's layup gave New Orleans a five-point lead before Simone Fontecchio beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer that left the Pelicans with a 39-37 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Kessler dunked to start the second-quarter scoring and tie the score before McCollum made back-to-back 3-pointers.

Utah closed within one point before New Orleans went on a 10-0 run, capped by five straight points from Nance.

Markkanen made a 3-pointer and Kelly Olynyk scored on a put-back to trim the Pelicans' lead to 59-51 entering halftime.

—Field Level Media

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