Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Keys to the Game

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Feb 8, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard Tim Frazier (2) and forward Anthony Davis (23) defend during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Jazz defeated the Pelicans 127-94. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Stat – Three-Point Percentage

One area in which the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled mightily since acquiring DeMarcus Cousins has been in their three-point shooting. Prior to last night’s win over the Lakers, in the four games Cousins had played for the Pelicans, the team shot just 26.7 percent from three. Cousins himself has struggled as well, going just 29.2 percent in a Pelicans uniform despite having started the year at 35.6 percent.

As a team, the Pelicans are ranked just 20th in the league with a three-point percentage of 35.1. Despite having a couple of solid shooters from deep, the Pelicans roster doesn’t exactly scream “dead-eyes” thus especially with Cousins and Anthony Davis (.300) struggling from deep this season, it’s an area where Utah should look to take significant advantage.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/838775878574186496

Unfortunately, the Jazz’s three-point shooting this season is nothing to write home about either as they rank just 13th in the league at 36.4 percent. They’ve been worse of late as, excluding the recent win over Brooklyn, they’ve gone just 14-of-52 (.269) in their last two contests.

The Kings dominated the Jazz from behind the arc last night and that was a key reason why Utah nearly (and quite frankly probably should have) lost the game. The Jazz will have to step up their shooting from deep in a big way tonight while hopefully keeping the Pelicans thoroughly in their three-point slump.

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