The NBA is back! After months of much-anticipated waiting, the league gave us a perfect game to kick-start the seeding games. The Utah Jazz took on the New Orleans Pelicans in a nail-biting encounter. We saw a major factor in the Jazz’s ability to push back at their opponents when down by a large margin. In a game where Brandon Ingram carried the Pelicans on his back, Rudy Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Mitchell shone bright to register a victory for their team. 

Ingram uplifted the Pelicans early on in the match with the help of veteran Jrue Holiday, who clocked the most minutes in the match. Holiday who is in his second year with the Pelicans played a vital role in the team’s first-half success. 

Coach Alvin Gentry did not make much use of Zion Williamson and only played him for 15 minutes. The dazzling rookie managed to notch up 13 points in the conservative playing time that he got. The Pelicans dominated the first half and at one point enjoyed a 16-point lead. 

When the second half began, the Jazz began closing in on their lead and Jordan Clarkson can be credited for putting up an impressive performance. The 28-year-old started from the bench but ended up as the joint top-scorer in the game with 23 points.

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell enjoyed a good comeback with the Utah Jazz

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell seem to have buried their past deep into the ground. The towering Frenchman notched up the first points of the game, which also marked the first bucket in the NBA’s restart. Naturally, Twitter erupted after Gobert got things going for the Utah Jazz. 

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Donovan Mitchell appeared to be more motivated after he came back from the half-time break. Utah’s talented shooting guard record 36 minutes on the court and led his team in assists. Mitchell powered the Jazz to victory in the final quarter by nailing crucial field goals.

Moreover, he made a quick assist to Gobert with 6.9  seconds remaining on the clock. The score was tied at 104 when Mitchell passed the ball to Gobert who received the ball beneath the rim and was instantly fouled.

A game that was in the hands of the Pelicans for a long period of time was handed over to the Jazz due to defensive gaps revealed by New Orleans towards the final minutes of the game. The Pelicans had control for most parts of the game. JJ Redick had a decent game on an individual record. Watching the veteran shoot beautifully from the field and making it look effortless never tires our eyes. 

However, even with Ingram, Holiday, and Redick having a great came on the restart, the Jazz pulled off a late winning move. In fact, they kept their calm ever since coming back into the second half. A 12 point deficit was slowly and effectively closed by the Jazz. 

A victory for the Jazz is certainly a bright welcome to the seeding games. The team has several points to prove this season. If they stick together as a talented unit, who knows what they might go on to achieve in the NBA bubble. 

SOURCE: NBA.com,  Insider.com