Pelicans Beat Jazz 120-113 in Overtime as Bey Closes It and Williamson Scores 23

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 120-113 in overtime at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night, November 4, completing a comeback from 13 points down for their fourth straight win.

Zion Williamson scored 23 points, all of them after halftime, and Saddiq Bey scored 22, with eight of his points in overtime. Reuters reported that Bey logged six straight points late in the extra period to close the game out. Derik Queen added 20 points and nine rebounds, Dejounte Murray added 20 points and eight rebounds in his return from a three game absence, and Jeremiah Fears scored 19.

Keyonte George led every scorer with 39 points for Utah, on 14 of 26 shooting, with nine assists and four steals. Lauri Markkanen added 21 points and 10 rebounds. The loss was Utah's sixth in a row, dropping the Jazz to 1-7. Their only win this season came against New Orleans, in Utah on October 23.

How the game turned

Utah controlled the middle of the game. The Jazz scored 43 points in the third quarter and led by 13 late in the third, and still led 85-72 early in the fourth. New Orleans outscored Utah 34-24 in the fourth quarter to tie the game 104-104. Utah led 104-100 with 39 seconds left in regulation after Markkanen hit his second three pointer in the final 1:36. George had a pull up jumper at the end of regulation to win it, but the shot came after the buzzer, and the game went to overtime.

Utah struck first in the extra period. George opened overtime with two straight three pointers and the Jazz led 110-104. New Orleans then scored 14 unanswered points, part of a 16-9 overtime, and Bey provided the finish, including a basket that put the Pelicans in front for good. New Orleans played without Trey Murphy III, who sat out with knee soreness.

What the win means

New Orleans opened the season with four straight losses. The Pelicans are now 4-4, at .500 for the first time in two years, with four straight wins. The pattern of the run is late game defense and Williamson taking over second halves. He was scoreless in the first half on Wednesday and still finished as his team's top scorer.

Utah's problem is the opposite. The Jazz keep getting a huge night from George and keep losing the last five minutes. Six straight losses have them at the bottom of the West at 1-7.

What is next

New Orleans hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, November 6, in an NBA Cup West Group B game. Utah heads home looking for a second win before its season slides any further.