SALT LAKE CITY — Anthony Davis and tough back-to-back games in different cities proved to be too much for the Jazz to overcome as they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans, 106-94, Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
Davis torched the Jazz for a career-high 43 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the field and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Davis tortured Utah’s big men with a slew of high-flying dunks, crafty lay-ups and a consistent mid-range jumper. Jazz center Rudy Gobert covered Davis for a good portion of the night, but said he isn’t the toughest cover in the league.
“Anthony is a very good player, he’s quick for his size and can shoot midrange,” Gobert said. “But I mean Dwight (Howard) is very strong. There’s guys like Dirk (Nowitzki), you can’t leave him alone, he’ll shoot in your face.”
Davis credited his teammates for his career night. He said they understand they will get a lot of shots throughout the course of the game, and they have a bunch of guys that can score at will, but they still found him for shots.
“Jrue (Holiday), Tyreke (Evans), Austin (Rivers), Jimmer (Fredette), the guards all did a good job finding me in my sweet spots,” Davis said. “Then I got to do my job and knock them down. They know they got to get me going early.”
The Jazz trailed by 19 in the second quarter, something that was very frustrating for Jazz forward Gordon Hayward. The Jazz came out in the third quarter on fire and even pulled within four points at one point in the second half, but ultimately couldn’t stop the Davis onslaught.
“For whatever reason, we came out flat again,” Hayward said. “We made a run, I’m proud of our run, but we just got to play like that the whole game.”
Hayward also recognized that losses this year don’t necessarily feel better than losses last year, but there is a difference.
“A loss is a loss in my book, man,” Hayward said. “I think this year we’re fighting a little bit more, but execution-wise, we just got to be better. I think we’re playing hard, for the most part.”
Fellow Jazz forward Trevor Booker agreed with Hayward’s thoughts on the game.
“I think it’s just the little mistakes,” Booker said. “The effort is there, we’re definitely out there competing. I just think it’s the little mistakes.”
The Jazz stay home this weekend and host the Chicago Bulls Monday at 7 p.m. The Jazz are still searching for their first win against a team with a winning record.
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