
Darryn Peterson's free throws with 50 seconds left lift the Jazz past the Pelicans 120-119
The rookie put Utah ahead for good in Salt Lake City, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and 10 rebounds. New Orleans lost center Yves Missi to a left knee injury and fell to 0-2.
By Beat Chuck Basketball Desk / 2 sources / Published October 24, 2026
Rookie Darryn Peterson made the go-ahead free throws with 50.5 seconds left, and the Utah Jazz beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 on Friday night at Delta Center.
The final minute was frantic. The officials upheld a charging foul on Zion Williamson as New Orleans tried to get the lead back, and Dejounte Murray missed a pull-up jumper just before the buzzer. Peterson finished with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Utah with 24 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and nine of his points came in the fourth quarter, along with a big block on Williamson. Jackson played only three games for the Jazz last season after being traded from Memphis and having surgery to remove a growth in his left knee, according to the Associated Press. Keyonte George had 19 points and 10 assists, Jaxson Hayes scored 17 on 7-of-8 shooting, and Lauri Markkanen added 16 with four 3-pointers.
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Williamson scored 23 on 8-of-12 shooting for New Orleans, and Saddiq Bey had 20 off the bench. Murray went scoreless in the first half, then scored his first 12 points during a 31-13 run that erased a 15-point Utah lead. He had three of the Pelicans' eight third-quarter steals, and New Orleans led 90-86 going into the fourth. Murray finished with 16 points and six assists. The Pelicans scored 64 points in the paint but made only 8 of 26 3-pointers.
New Orleans has now given up second-half leads in both of its games. It also lost starting center Yves Missi, who hurt his left knee in the second quarter when Williamson fell into his leg after Hayes blocked a Williamson drive. Missi had to be helped to the locker room and will be re-evaluated Saturday.
The win snapped Utah's eight-game losing streak against the Pelicans. The Jazz are 1-1 and host the Lakers on Sunday, when former Jazz center Walker Kessler returns. The Pelicans visit Denver on Saturday.
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