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

Key Performer – Derrick Favors

As I mentioned earlier, Derrick Favors has historically matched up very well against Anthony Davis. Last season, Faves was consistently able to hold Davis in check by forcing him into highly inefficient nights while also being able to muscle his way past AD to put up prolific scoring nights of his own.

The last time Utah and New Orleans faced off, none of the starters logged all that many minutes given the absolute devastation the Jazz doled out in the blowout win, but Favors was still solid finishing with 12 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting while Davis ended up with an identical 12 points but on a much worse 4-of-12 outing.

True, Rudy Gobert was covering Davis for a significant part of that match-up, but now with Cousins in the fold and Davis officially sliding to his more natural power forward spot, it will be up to Favors to mainly keep him in check. While that’s a tall task for a player who has been extremely erratic this season, I like Derrick’s chances against a player he seems to have confidence against.

Favors has finished with double figures in two of his last four contests and it appears he’s starting to get his legs back under him and is finding his shot. If that can continue to come together and if he can build some confidence in a match-up that he has recently thrived in, it could spell good news for both him and this Jazz team moving forward.