SALT LAKE CITY – Friday’s game at Utah is only game 22 of the regular season for New Orleans, not 72 or 82. Yet for a variety of reasons, the matchup against the Jazz holds a bit more importance than your standard Western Conference meeting in early December. The Pelicans (11-10) and Jazz (11-11) are currently seventh and eighth in the West, respectively, but for New Orleans to not flip-flop spots in the standings with Utah on Friday, it needs to post what would figure to be a very hard-fought win in a difficult venue.
New Orleans also must win at Vivint Smart Home Arena to remain over .