Jazz survive a third-quarter collapse to edge Pelicans in dramatic fashion – Deseret News

Will Hardy shakes up the starting lineup

Utah coach Will Hardy made a change to his starting five Friday, inserting second-year forward Ace Bailey in place of Jaxson Hayes as the Jazz looked to find a better balance between their starting and bench units.

Bailey joined Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt, while Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson were in the backourt. The Bailey addition gave Utah another perimeter defender and a different offensive look after the team struggled on both sides against the Grizzlies.

Hardy said Bailey’s energy and defense were key reasons for the change, while moving Hayes to the bench gave the second unit a different dynamic.

“I think Ace gives us a huge lift,” Hardy said. “I think Jaxson at the 5 creates a different set of matchups for us offensively, which will maybe have us see a few different coverages, potentially give us some more space with that first group.”

Hardy also pointed to Hayes’ chemistry with guard Isaiah Collier in pick-and-roll situations as a reason to keep the big man with the second unit.

The move paid off in different ways. Bailey made an impact defensively, while Hayes provided a major spark off the bench and eventually closed the game.

A third quarter the Jazz would rather forget

For a while, the Jazz looked like a different team Friday from the one that struggled in Memphis.

Utah at one point built a 15-point lead and entered halftime with a 62-52 advantage, as it moved the ball well and controlled the glass.

But the third quarter brought back many of the same problems that plagued the team in its season opener.

The Jazz committed eight turnovers and seven fouls in the quarter while New Orleans shot 60% from deep. Poor defensive rotations and an inability to keep the Pelicans out of the paint allowed the visitors to erase the lead and even take a 90-86 advantage into the fourth.

George said before the game Friday that the team’s focus needed to last all 48 minutes. The third quarter showed why.

“When adversity hits, what type of group, team, will we be in those moments?” George said earlier in the day. “Can we fight back, even if we don’t get the result that we want?”

The Jazz eventually found that response, but the third quarter was a reminder that their defensive consistency remains a work in progress.

Jaxson Hayes delivers when the Jazz need him most

Hayes entered Friday’s game off the bench after starting against Memphis, but he made sure his presence was felt when the Jazz needed it most.

The center finished with 17 points, providing energy around the rim and making several key plays in the fourth quarter as Utah fought its way back into the lead.

Hayes helped give the Jazz a lift on both ends of the floor, particularly with his activity around the basket. Hardy said Hayes’ ability to protect the rim against Pelicans star Zion Williamson and help Utah rebound late in the game factored into the decision to keep him on the floor.

“I thought Jax was just having a huge impact on the game around the basket,” Hardy said. “I felt like late in the game, trying to keep Zion off the rim and then rebounding was going to be our biggest deciding factor to win the game.”

Jackson also came up big down the stretch, finishing with 24 points. After Hayes helped spark the comeback, Jackson delivered important plays on both ends as Utah held on for the one-point victory.

For a Jazz team still figuring out its identity, the win offered a glimpse of what it can look like when different players step up at the right time. Utah still has plenty to clean up, but Friday night showed the team can respond when a game starts slipping away.