Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 19, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a sixth straight NBA victory on Tuesday, a 118-102 triumph over Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Mitchell piled up 15 points in the first quarter on an efficient six-of-seven shooting from the field.
“I was just doing my job and trying to find was to provide a spark,” said Mitchell, who finished with seven rebounds and four assists. “Tonight it was getting to the rim early and trying to be aggressive and score.”
📹| A 36-20 third quarter broke this one wide open ⤵️#podiumpostgame | @podiumhq pic.twitter.com/yxOiWN9hUk
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 20, 2021
French center Rudy Gobert added 13 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Jordan Clarkson added 18 points off the bench and reserve Joe Ingles, returning from a three-game absence due to an Achilles tendon injury, chipped in 15 for the Jazz who improved to 10-4 to match the Los Angeles Clippers for second place in the Western Conference behind the 11-4 Los Angeles Lakers.
The Pelicans had the edge in the paint, where they out-scored the Jazz 64-42. But Utah drained 21 three-pointers to New Orleans’ six.
Williamson, the 20-year-old taken first overall in the 2019 draft, led the Pels with 32 points and five rebounds.
He was five-for-five from the field in the first quarter and his layup capped a 7-0 scoring run that put New Orleans up 20-18 with 4:09 left in the first period.
Brandon Ingram added 17 points for New Orleans. But Lonzo Ball — back after missing three games with a knee injury — had just seven and Steven Adams scored six and the Pelicans never led in the second half.