Pelicans Vs Jazz: Saddiq Bey’s 42 lifts New Orleans in Salt Lake City, injury cloud looms
In Salt Lake City on Thursday night, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 in the opening game of a two-game set, a matchup framed by injuries and roster absences ahead of the rematch. The pelicans vs jazz matchup already carries immediate implications for both teams’ rotations and short-term plans.
Final score and standout performances in Salt Lake City
Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 42 points, going 14-of-20 from the field, 5-of-9 on 3-pointers and 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Zion Williamson finished with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray added 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game after missing more than a year because of a torn right Achilles. The Pelicans opened a six-game trip with the victory and will meet the Jazz again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.
Jazz scoring leaders and the short-handed trend
Ace Bailey led the Jazz with 23 points while Brice Sensabaugh had 20. The short-handed Jazz have lost four straight and, by one listed measure, fell to a 18-41 record after the defeat. The team’s depleted rotation was evident on the court Thursday night.
Markkanen’s practice injury, ankle and hip issues keep him out
Lauri Markkanen was injured in practice Wednesday and was held out of the game because of a sprained right ankle and right hip impingement. Separate pregame material noted that Markkanen suffered a right ankle/right hip issue during Jazz practice the day before facing the Pelicans, a problem that limited his availability. That material also noted Markkanen had missed two of his last three games for Utah but played against the Rockets, where he had a 29-point performance with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was downgraded to out before tip-off for this meeting with New Orleans.
Keyonte George’s extended absence and status swings
Keyonte George has been sidelined for the Jazz across eight of their last nine games due to ankle injuries. He was elevated to questionable for Utah’s previous game against the Rockets but then was downgraded again ahead of tip-off for this matchup, a sequence that will make George’s ninth missed game in his past 10 outings. One listing showed Keyonte George as Questionable with a right ankle sprain; other pregame material showed him downgraded to out before tip-off.
Season-ending shutdowns and other roster losses
Starters Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic have been shut down for the season following surgeries. Jaren Jackson Jr. was explicitly listed out with left knee surgery. Utah also lost Vince Williams Jr. to a torn ACL on Monday night in a loss at Houston. Those absences, combined with the uncertainty around Markkanen and George, left observers expecting an extremely young starting five for the Jazz on Thursday night.
Pelicans availability and conflicting records ahead of the rematch
The Pelicans were described as mainly healthy aside from the absence of their two-way wing Trey Murphy III, who is dealing with a right shoulder issue. One listing showed Try Murphy III as OUT with a right shoulder contusion, while other material used the spelling Trey Murphy III and noted the same right shoulder problem. Records published around the game varied: one set of published records listed the Pelicans at 18-42 and the Jazz at 18-41, while another listed the Pelicans at 17-42 and the Jazz at 18-40. The Pelicans have won three straight and five of seven, and they do not own their own 2026 first-round pick, meaning a win would not affect that pick’s status in 2026.
