By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Utah Jazz kicked off the NBA restart with 106 – 104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the first official league game since March 11 and the suspension of the season amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Rudy Gobert, the first player who tested positive for coronavirus then, hit the pair of game-winning free throws for the Jazz with seven seconds to play, to complete the game with 14 points plus 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Brandon Ingram missed in a 3-point attempt on the other end. He was the Pelicans’ leading scorer with 23 points.
Jordan Clarkson scored a game-high 23 points for the Jazz while Mike Conley had 20 points and Donovan Mitchell 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Nicolo Melli went scoreless in the 14 minutes he played. He added three steals and two assists.
In the other game of the restart’s opening night, Lebron James made the go-ahead layup with 13 seconds remaining and then pulled off some key defenses to push the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103 – 101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
James finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists while Anthony Davis carried the Lakers with his 34 points.
Paul George dropped 30 points and Kawhi Leonard posted 28 points and five boards for the Clippers. Ivica Zubac finished with two points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.