Saddiq Bey erupted for 42 points and Zion Williamson added 20 as the Pelicans beat the Jazz on Thursday night to open a two-game set.
Bey shot 14 of 20 from the field, went 5 of 9 from 3-point range and made all nine of his free throws in a dominant performance. Williamson finished 9 of 14 from the floor, while Dejounte Murray contributed 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game since returning from a torn right Achilles that sidelined him for more than a year.
New Orleans, which began a six-game road trip, has won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.
Ace Bailey led Utah with 23 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 20, but the short-handed Jazz dropped their fourth consecutive game to fall to 18-41.
Utah played without Lauri Markkanen, who was held out with a sprained right ankle and right hip impingement suffered in practice Wednesday. The Jazz have also shut down Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic for the season following surgeries, and recently lost Vince Williams Jr. to a torn ACL.
Up next: The teams will meet again Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
