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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans held off a late Utah charge to beat the NBA-leading Jazz 129-124 on Monday night.
Brandon Ingram scored 26 points, Lonzo Ball added 23 and JJ Redick had 17, highlighted by a pair of four-point plays on 3-pointers as he was fouled.
Bojan Bogdanovic hit seven 3s and finished with a game-high 31 points for Utah (27-8), which lost for just the eighth time this season, but the second time in three games.
New Orleans led by as many as 17 points in the second half and was still up 14 when Ball’s 3 made it 122-108 with 3:54 left.
But Utah steadily chipped away during the next three minutes, pulling to 125-124 on Royce O’Neale’s 3 with 46.7 seconds left. Donovan Mitchell, who scored eight of his 21 points in the final minutes to help give the Jazz a chance, missed a driving floater with a chance to put Utah back in the lead.
Rudy Gobert, who had 22 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, was called for a loose-ball foul trying to get the rebound and Williamson hit two free throws to put New Orleans up three.
Utah’s last chance to tie went awry when New Orleans swarmed perimeter shooters and Mike Conley was forced to attempt a leaning, double-clutch 3 from the corner that missed the rim. Williamson directed the rebound to Ball, who fired his final assist downcourt to Josh Hart for a game-sealing dunk that had the socially distanced crowd of just less than 3,000 jumping out of their seats in full voice.
The Pelicans entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead after outscoring Utah 40-24 in the third period. Williamson scored 15 points and added a pair of assists in the quarter.
His spurt was marked by his conversion of Ball’s three-quarter-court lob, with Williamson catching it off balance to the left of the rim and putting it in just before he crashed over the baseline. Williamson also converted a three-point play on a strong drive to the basket as he was fouled, and one of his assists came after he drew three defenders with a spin move inside and slung the ball out to Redick for a 3.
Utah led for most of the first half, and by as many as nine points, in large part because of their 11 made 3s during the opening 24 minutes.
Bogdanovic made five of his first seven shots from deep and had 19 points in the half.
Ball scored 10 of his points in the second period, and his second 3 of the game cut Utah’s lead to 64-59 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points in 27 minutes off the bench. … Conley finished with 10 points. … Utah had its highest scoring second quarter of the season with 41 points … Utah shot 45.5% (46 of 101), including 17 of 43 from 3-point range.
Pelicans: Hart scored 13 points to go with seven rebounds. … Eric Bledsoe scored 11 points. … New Orleans shot 56.5% (52 of 92), including 7 of 11 from 3-point range. … The Pelicans outscored Utah 74-56 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Visit Philadelphia on Wednesday night as they close out a four-game road trip.
Pelicans: Host Chicago on Wednesday in the second of three straight home games before the All-Star break.
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