The New Orleans Pelicans opened up play inside the NBA’s bubble on Thursday evening by taking on the Utah Jazz. The back-and-forth game featured some lows early from New Orleans and some highs in the middle periods.
But while much has changed around the world in the four months since the Pelicans last played a basketball game, much of the same problems plagued them on the court as they collapsed down the stretch to fall to Utah, 106-104.
New Orleans controlled long sections of the second and third quarters and looked close to blowing the game open at times. But with Zion Williamson limited, the team watched its lead slowly slip away, leading to a 97-94 advantage with 5:00 to go.
That would signify a “clutch” situation as defined by the NBA – contests that are within five points with five minutes left – an area the Pelicans have struggled mightily in this season. Thursday was no different as the team finished with an offensive rating of 63.6, a defensive rating of 120.0 and a net rating of -56.4 in those five clutch minutes.
It wasn’t all bad for the Pelicans down the stretch, but too much of it was. The offense managed just seven points over those final five minutes while the defense allowed 12.
Here’s a look at three plays from each side of the court that proved to be difference-makers in the loss.