The New Orleans Pelicans held off the Utah Jazz 120-113 at home on November 5, 2026, powered by Zion Williamson’s dominant interior performance and a balanced supporting effort. New Orleans controlled the paint for most of the night, then answered Utah’s fourth-quarter push with a decisive run to secure the win.

Match overview

The Pelicans built a modest lead in the first half behind Williamson’s physical drives and Trey Murphy III’s perimeter shooting. Utah stayed close thanks to Lauri Markkanen’s scoring and Keyonte George’s shot creation. The Jazz cut the deficit to two points early in the fourth, but New Orleans responded with an 8-0 burst and never surrendered the lead again.

• First quarter: Pelicans 30, Jazz 27
• Second quarter: Jazz 30, Pelicans 29
• Third quarter: Pelicans 31, Jazz 28
• Fourth quarter: Pelicans 30, Jazz 28
• Final: Pelicans 120, Jazz 113

Key moments

With 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, Utah trimmed the lead to 106-104 after Markkanen hit a three from the wing. New Orleans called timeout and immediately went back to Williamson, who drew a foul and hit two free throws. On the next possession, Dejounte Murray stole an outlet pass and found Murphy for a transition three. A Yves Missi block at the rim then led to another Williamson finish, pushing the lead back to nine and forcing Utah to chase.

The Jazz made one last run behind George’s pull-up jumpers, but New Orleans answered each bucket with either free throws or an offensive rebound. The Pelicans’ late-game rebounding was a major factor in sealing the result.

Tactical story

New Orleans’ game plan revolved around attacking the paint. Williamson repeatedly overpowered smaller defenders, and the Pelicans finished with a significant advantage in points in the paint. When Utah collapsed, New Orleans found open shooters on the perimeter. Murphy’s movement off the ball created clean looks, while Murray’s playmaking helped stabilize the offense when Williamson was doubled.

Utah’s offense was effective in spurts, particularly when Markkanen forced mismatches and George attacked off screens. Walker Kessler controlled the glass and provided rim protection, but the Jazz struggled to contain Williamson without sending help. That help often left New Orleans shooters open, and the Pelicans made enough threes to keep the Jazz from fully committing to a zone or aggressive double-teams.

Standout players

• Zion Williamson (NOP): 30 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, dominant inside.
• Trey Murphy III (NOP): 24 points, timely three-point shooting.
• Dejounte Murray (NOP): 18 points, 9 assists, key steals in the fourth.
• Yves Missi (NOP): 12 points, 12 rebounds, important rim protection.
• Lauri Markkanen (UTA): 28 points, 8 rebounds.
• Keyonte George (UTA): 22 points, 6 assists.
• Walker Kessler (UTA): 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks.

Season impact

The victory helps New Orleans keep pace in a crowded Western Conference and reinforces the team’s identity as a paint-first offense. Williamson’s health and aggression remain central to the Pelicans’ ceiling, and his performance against Utah showed why he remains one of the league’s most difficult matchups. For Utah, the loss was another competitive effort that came up short in the details. The Jazz will need more consistent perimeter defense and better late-game shot selection as they continue a demanding stretch.

New Orleans’ 120-113 win was not a flawless performance, but it was a mature one. The Pelicans protected their home court, won the key possessions in the fourth quarter, and got star-level production from Williamson when the game demanded it.