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National Basketball Association
Utah 114, New Orleans 108
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, December 1, 2017
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Officials: #63 Derek Richardson, #13 Monty McCutchen, #32 Marat Kogut
Attendance: 17725

SALT LAKE CITY -- Taking over a game is becoming second nature to Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell owned the fourth quarter on Friday night en route to helping the Utah Jazz rally for a 114-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 17 of his career-high 41 points in the final quarter and hit critical baskets to put the Jazz ahead for good heading into the final minute.

At the end of it, Mitchell's performance even left him speechless. He broke a Jazz rookie scoring record and posted the first 40-point game by an NBA rookie since Blake Griffin in 2011.

Mitchell passed Darrell Griffith, another former Louisville guard, who set the previous Jazz rookie scoring mark with 38 points in the 1980-81 season.

"It means the world," Mitchell said. "I've known him since my freshman year, and to be able to be in the same place he came to and play for the same school. It's just incredible. I'm speechless. I can't help but smile."

Alec Burks added 24 for the Jazz and Derrick Favors chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Utah (12-11) posted its fifth straight win.

New Orleans had no way to slow Mitchell down after Anthony Davis exited with a groin injury in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Davis had to be helped off the court and did not return. He finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said Davis will undergo an MRI in Portland and will likely not play against the Trail Blazers on Saturday.

Still, Gentry didn't use losing Davis as an excuse for the Pelicans' inability to defend the red-hot Jazz down the stretch. In the end, New Orleans (11-11) suffered a third straight loss.

"It happens all the time in this league and you just got to continue to play," Gentry said. "It doesn't matter who goes down, we were in the opportunity where we had a chance to win the game. That's where you have to have everyone step up and play a little better for you."

DeMarcus Cousins led the Pelicans with 23 points and 13 rebounds. E'Twaun Moore added 18 points and Darius Miller had 15 off the bench.

The Jazz went ahead for good on back-to-back layups from Mitchell, taking a 107-103 lead with 1:17 remaining. It formed part of a game-clinching 15-2 run for Utah in the final minutes.

"He dominated from start to finish," Cousins said.

Mitchell and Joe Ingles each drained back-to-back 3-pointers early in the first quarter to help the Jazz stake out a quick 14-8 lead.

The Pelicans surged back in front behind a 12-0 run. Moore stole the ball from Favors and dunked it to tie the score. Then Jameer Nelson and Moore capped the run with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving New Orleans a 20-14 lead.

Utah managed to regain the lead a couple of times in the second quarter by forcing turnovers and went up 41 -38 on a steal and dunk from Burks.

The Pelicans regained the lead on a four-point play from Miller. New Orleans then outscored Utah 17-2 in the final four minutes before halftime. The Jazz went 1 of 6 from the field and committed two turnovers during that stretch.

Miller finished the spurt with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give New Orleans a 55-43 halftime lead.

Utah's offense roared to life in the third quarter to close the gap again. The Jazz were 14 of 21 from the floor in the quarter and cut the deficit to 82-80 on another 3-pointer from Burks.

When Davis was injured in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, it opened the door for Utah to pull away. The Jazz rattled off a 10-0 run.

Utah went ahead on back-to-back layups from Mitchell and Thabo Sefolosha and took a 90-84 lead on a 3-pointer from Sefolosha.

"Guys were all over the place and being aggressive," Favors said. "We had nothing to lose, so we were just playing really out of control on defense. We were making sure they took tough shots, contest their shots and keep them off the boards. We converted on the offensive end. Every advantage we had, we went to it."

New Orleans rallied behind another 12-0 spurt. The Pelicans went back in front on a driving layup from Rajon Rondo and took a 96-90 lead on Miller's 3-pointer that capped the spurt.

NOTES: F Derrick Favors recorded his fifth double-double of the season. ... Pelicans F Darius Miller is shooting 49.4 percent from 3-point range this season, ranking second among all NBA players. ... Utah finished with a 48-38 scoring edge in the paint. F Anthony Davis and C DeMarcus Cousins have a combined 32 double-doubles this season. ... Mitchell scored 29 second-half points.
Top Game Performances
 
New Orleans   Utah
DeMarcus Cousins 23 Scoring Donovan Mitchell 41
Rajon Rondo 11 Assists Joe Ingles 7
DeMarcus Cousins 13 Rebounds Derrick Favors 11
DeMarcus Cousins 5 Free Throws Made Donovan Mitchell 9
Anthony Davis 2 Steals Alec Burks 2
Jrue Holiday 3 Blocks Alec Burks 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Orleans 108 48.3 15-30 9-15 28 42 7 4 10
Utah 114 49.4 12-30 18-25 25 46 3 7 8
Upcoming Games
  • Utah will play their next game at home against Washington. The Jazz have a W/L % of .583 after a win and .455 after a loss.
  • New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Portland. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .545 after a win and .455 after a loss.