If the New Orleans Pelicans (28-25) want to make it into the postseason, they’ll need to keep a very close eye on the Utah Jazz (25-28), especially after Rodney Hood came off the bench for the Jazz and put up 30 points en route to a 133-109 victory.
It was all Utah from the outset thanks to poor shooting from beyond the arc led to an early 15-4 lead. The Pelicans started to fight back as the first quarter progressed, but were unable to make a dent in the deficit and ended the quarter down 34-23.
The Jazz continued to pull away in the second quarter, getting out to as much as a 16-point lead with 7:12 left until halftime. However, New Orleans woke up in a big way at the end of the first half and got within six points at the break thanks to 14 points from Rajan Rondo.
The third quarter continues to plague the Pelicans, with Utah getting out to as much as a 19-point lead and responding with only 22 points. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter with Hood putting the final nail in with a three-pointer with 3:19 left in regulation.
The Pelicans will stay in the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday when they play host to the Indiana Pacers (30-24) with tipoff set for 7 pm.