Davis returns, Pelicans edge Jazz 119-111
NEW ORLEANS - Anthony Davis returned from a chest injury and scored 31 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the reeling Utah Jazz, 119-111 on Tuesday night.
Davis, who sat out most of Friday night's victory over Cleveland and all of Sunday night's loss to Golden State, played with a protective vest that did not appear to inhibit him. He had nine rebounds and three blocks, with all three rejections coming in the pivotal final four minutes.
Ryan Anderson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans added 19 points, scoring nine during New Orleans' 41-point fourth quarter.
Enes Kanter scored 29 points for Utah, which has lost three straight and 12 of 13. Gordon Hayward scored 17 for the Jazz, which lost despite shooting 50 percent and scoring 68 points in the paint.
The Pelicans went ahead for good on consecutive transition layups by Evans, the first coming between three Jazz defenders who had sprinted back to try to stop him. Davis helped set up the second layup with his block from behind of Kanter's attempted put-back.
That gave New Orleans a 105-104 lead with 3:17 left.
Soon after, Davis gave the Pelicans a five-point lead when he converted Evans' driving pass into a layup as he was fouled. Davis capped his night with a reverse dunk in the final minute that sent the crowd into a frenzy and virtually sealed the victory.
Trey Burke scored 16 for Utah, but scored only once after going 5 of 5 for 14 points in the first quarter. Alec Burks also scored 16 for the Jazz
Kanter had 10 of his points in the third quarter, when Utah scored 33 points and led by as much as 11 when Exum soared into the paint to grab a rebound and in one motion tossed in a short floater at the horn to make it 89-78.
The Jazz led 92-78 on Trevor Booker's dunk early in the fourth quarter before New Orleans went on an 18-7 run capped by consecutive 3s from Anderson and Austin Rivers.
Utah led for most of a high-scoring first half. New Orleans shot 56.8 (21 of 37) percent, only to be outdone by Utah's 58.1 percent shooting (25 of 43).
The Jazz lead by as many as 11 points when Hayward's driving layup made it 24-13, but led by only one possession at halftime after Davis' put-back dunk of Omer Asik's miss made it 56-53.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Utah played a second-straight game without front-court starter Derrick Favors, who was questionable with a sprained right ankle. Rudy Gobert started at center in his place. ... The Jazz fell to 3-2 when shooting 50 percent or better.
Pelicans: New Orleans turned the ball over nine times in the first quarter. The Pelicans have had nine or fewer turnovers in five games this season. ... New Orleans' 68 points allowed in the paint was a season-high.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Visit Miami on Wednesday.
Pelicans: Visit Houston on Thursday.