Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert makes a free throw after being fouled late in the during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) AP
Ryan McDonald
By Ryan McDonald

SALT LAKE CITY — In the first NBA game since March 11 when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the Frenchman made the game-winning free throws as the Jazz beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 on Thursday.

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Utah Jazz's Royce O'Neale (23) and New Orleans Pelicans' Nicolo Melli (20) reach for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) heads to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans' Jrue Holiday (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) heads to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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New Orleans Pelicans' JJ Redick (4) shoots over Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) heads to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans' E'Twaun Moore (55) and Josh Hart defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) dribbles around New Orleans Pelicans' Jaxson Hayes (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles (2) shoots during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Tony Bradley (13) reaches for a rebound along with New Orleans Pelicans' Jaxson Hayes (10) and Lonzo Ball as Pelicans' Jrue Holiday (11) watches in the background during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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New Orleans Pelicans' Jrue Holiday (11) passes as Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley (10) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry wears a protective face covering on the sidelines during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball, left, looks to pass as Utah Jazz's Mike Conley (10) and Donovan Mitchell, bottom right, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as teammate Royce O'Neale (23) watches along with New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball (2), Brandon Ingram and JJ Redick (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, left, and New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball (2) reach for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball (2) heads to the basket past Utah Jazz's Mike Conley during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) looks to pass around New Orleans Pelicans' Jrue Holiday (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) is unable to score as New Orleans Pelicans' Derrick Favors (22) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert makes a free throw after being fouled late in the during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) and New Orleans Pelicans' Jrue Holiday (11) hug following an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Jazz won 106-104. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP

He also made the game’s first bucket and finished with 14 points.

Here are three keys from the game.

  • With the game tied at 104 with 6.9 seconds to play, Gobert was fouled by former Jazz teammate Derrick Favors and made both free throws. Brandon Ingram then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Utah got the win.
  • Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 23 points and was tremendous in the final minutes of the third quarter as Utah was trying to rally from a 12-point halftime deficit, scoring eight points.
  • The Jazz won despite shooting just 8-of-34 from behind the 3-point line thanks to a plus-11 advantage from the free-throw line and a plus-8 edge in points in the paint.
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