New Orleans @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2019 ) Utah 127, New Orleans 128

The New Orleans Pelicans are in search of their fourth straight victory when they visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday. New Orleans sputtered out of the gate with just three victories in its first 12 games before responding with three wins by an average of 7.3 points.

The winning streak comes at a time when rookie forward Zion Williamson is nearing a return from preseason knee surgery. General manager David Griffin said Williamson is progressing in his rehab and stated "Zion is really excited and that's where we want him to be." Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and point guard Mike Conley added 27 as the Jazz notched a 113-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. But Utah's 18-point lead after three quarters nearly got away during a game in which it committed 21 turnovers, a fact that left Jazz coach Quin Snyder and the players frustrated afterward.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS New Orleans, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (6-9): Small forward Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and JJ Redick added 26 while fellow guard Jrue Holiday had 23 points and nine assists as New Orleans recorded a 124-121 road win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Ingram, who is averaging 28.2 points over his last five appearances, scored 15 of his points in the final quarter. "Just seeing what the defense was giving me," Ingram told reporters. "I was forcing it a little bit in the first half. Not letting the game come to me. I tried to open up the floor a little bit by passing it to my teammates for shots on the wings, then finally finding attack space and knocking down shots."

ABOUT THE JAZZ (10-5): Center Rudy Gobert played like a reigning two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year against Golden State as he blocked seven shots - the fifth time he has blocked at least seven during his career - while hauling in 19 rebounds. "I felt like we played great defense in the halfcourt," Gobert said in a postgame television interview while expressing dismay over the poor fourth-quarter play in which Utah was outscored 37-23. Conley, who was 4-of-5 from 3-point range Friday, has scored 15 or more points in each of the past eight games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Jazz have won four of the past five meetings.

2. Mitchell has scored 30 or more points four times this season.

3. New Orleans PF-C Derrick Favors (back) - who formerly played for the Jazz - has missed three straight games and is questionable for Saturday.

PREDICTION: Jazz 108, Pelicans 101