Clarkson out with illness, but Jazz come from behind to dispatch Pelicans

Collin Sexton scored 15 points in the second half and the short-handed Utah Jazz snapped a four-game losing streak by rallying to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 105-100, in Salt Lake City on Saturday, November 25 (Sunday, November 26, Manila time).

Rookie Keyonte George scored 15 points, including clutch free throws with 5.7 seconds remaining, to go with 6 rebounds and 5 assists as Utah won for only the third time in 11 games. Kelly Olynyk contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Walker Kessler returned after missing seven games with a left elbow sprain and finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams, who will square off again Monday in Utah, played without key players.

Zion Williamson, who led the Pelicans to a road win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, continued his pattern of sitting out the second night of back-to-back sets.

The Jazz were without leading scorers Lauri Markkanen (left hamstring soreness) and Jordan Clarkson (illness).

Sexton helped Utah overcome a 10-point halftime deficit by scoring all but one of his points in the second half, hitting two three-pointers during a decisive 11-2 run late in the fourth quarter.

New Orleans, topped in scoring by Brandon Ingram (26 points) and Jordan Hawkins (25), led by as many as 13 points and held a 93-92 lead when Utah made its final push.

Sexton sandwiched three-pointers around an Ingram bucket. George then connected from beyond the arc and Simone Fontecchio (10 points) gave the Jazz a 103-95 lead with 1:11 left in the game.

The Pelicans pulled within 3 after a Hawkins trey and a Herbert Jones layup. The visitors had a chance to tie it, but Dyson Daniels committed a traveling turnover with 9.9 seconds remaining while positioning for a three-pointer.

New Orleans saw its three-game winning streak snapped while only shooting 41.9% from the field and being outrebounded 52-42. – Rappler.com