Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV/Streaming: KJZZ (Jazz local), Jazz+, Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (Pelicans local), Pelicans+
Radio: WWL 870 AM (Pelicans), Jazz radio network
Game Context
This back-to-back rematch in Salt Lake City features two of the Western Conference’s bottom feeders battling for positioning in the 2025-26 standings. The Jazz currently sit 13th in the West at 18-41 (.305), while the Pelicans are 14th at 18-42 (.300), 0.5 games behind. A Pelicans win would allow New Orleans to leapfrog Utah in the standings. Both teams are well out of playoff contention (27+ games behind the leader), but pride, draft positioning implications, and momentum from the first meeting on Thursday night are on the line.
Recent Form
Pelicans: Riding a three-game winning streak and have gone 5-2 in their last seven games (improving from a dismal 10-36 start to 7-6 in a more competitive stretch since late January). They just dismantled the Jazz 129-118 on Thursday, shooting 52.3% from the field, forcing 18 turnovers, and getting a career-night 42-point explosion from Saddiq Bey. New Orleans has shown improved cohesion with key veterans returning from injury.
Jazz: On a four-game losing skid and just 3-10 since January 23. Thursday’s home loss exposed defensive woes (allowing 52.3% shooting and 37 assists) and rebounding disadvantages despite a short-handed roster. Utah’s offense has stayed respectable (118.0 PPG, 7th in NBA), but the defense ranks dead-last (125.9 PPG allowed, 30th).
Injury Report
New Orleans Pelicans
- OUT: Yves Missi (left calf strain – 5th straight missed game), Trey Murphy III (right shoulder contusion – 4th straight missed game; season-long 22.1 PPG leader).
- G-League two-way players Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson also out.
- Available: Zion Williamson (averaging 20+ PPG in recent stretch), Saddiq Bey (red-hot), Dejounte Murray (returned recently from Achilles issue), Herb Jones (ankle, active and impactful).
Utah Jazz
- OUT: Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee – season-ending recovery/surgery), Walker Kessler (left shoulder recovery), Jusuf Nurkic (nose surgery/recovery), Vince Williams Jr. (left ACL tear – season-ending).
- Questionable / Status TBD for Saturday: Lauri Markkanen (right ankle sprain / right hip impingement – missed or limited recently), Keyonte George (right ankle sprain).
- Frontcourt depth is decimated, forcing heavy reliance on young players and second-unit performers.
The Jazz enter extremely shorthanded on the interior, which should give New Orleans a massive advantage in size and athleticism around the rim.
Key Player Matchups
- Zion Williamson (NOP) vs. Jazz depleted frontcourt (Ace Bailey / Brice Sensabaugh / rookies): Zion has scored 20+ in five straight games. With Jackson, Kessler, and Nurkic unavailable, expect Zion to dominate paint touches, transition attacks, and second-chance opportunities.
- Saddiq Bey (NOP) vs. Utah perimeter defenders: Bey just dropped 42 points (14/20 FG, 70%) with 7 assists in Thursday’s win. He’ll likely draw primary defensive attention but benefits from Jazz injuries creating open driving lanes and kick-out threes.
- Dejounte Murray / Herb Jones (NOP) vs. Jazz guards (George if active, or young wings): Murray’s playmaking and Jones’ versatility on defense will be pivotal in containing Utah’s assist-heavy attack (29.9 APG, 2nd in NBA).
- Ace Bailey / Brice Sensabaugh (UTA) vs. Pelicans wings: These young Jazz pieces stepped up Thursday (Bailey 23 pts). They must generate efficient scoring without their veteran anchors.
Head-to-Head / Series History
- Pelicans lead the season series 1-0 after Thursday’s 129-118 road victory.
- New Orleans has won the last 6 straight meetings against Utah (6-0 SU per betting databases).
- Thursday’s game showed New Orleans dominating assists (37-28), steals (13-14 but forced more turnovers), and rebounding slightly while shooting far more efficiently.
Betting Trends
- Pelicans are 33-26-1 ATS overall and have covered as a 6.5+ favorite in recent instances. They are 1-0 ATS vs. Jazz this season.
- Jazz are 18-17 ATS as 6.5+ underdogs but have failed to cover in their last 4 games as underdogs/favorites in recent stretch.
- Over has hit in 59.3% of Jazz games (especially at home – 70%) but the teams’ combined seasonal average is only 233.1 PPG (well under 245.5). Thursday’s total was 247.
- Pelicans games have gone Over in 52.5% of contests; they perform well ATS when scoring efficiently.
Game Odds
New Orleans Pelicans – 6.5
Utah Jazz 243.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
