Mitchell shines as red-hot Jazz down Pelicans
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.
Article continues after this advertisement“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.
Article continues after this advertisementJordan 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.
