Pelicans Host Jazz in Matchup of NBA Cellar Dwellers

New Orleans looks to snap three-game skid against struggling Utah squad

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:12am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy, green, and orange hues, conceptually representing the fragmented and disjointed seasons of the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz.A cubist interpretation of the Pelicans and Jazz battling it out on the hardwood, reflecting the fragmented nature of their seasons.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Pelicans (25-54) will host the Utah Jazz (21-58) on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center. Both teams are near the bottom of the NBA standings, with the Pelicans coming off a close loss to the Magic and the Jazz reeling from a blowout defeat against the Thunder in their last outing.

Why it matters

This game features two of the worst teams in the league this season, as both the Pelicans and Jazz have struggled mightily and are well out of playoff contention. However, it still provides an opportunity for young players to get valuable minutes and experience as the season winds down.

The details

The Jazz are coming off a 146-111 loss to the Thunder in which they shot just 43% from the field and allowed Oklahoma City to connect on 24 three-pointers. Brice Sensabaugh led Utah with 34 points in the defeat. The Pelicans, meanwhile, dropped a close 112-108 decision to the Magic despite 32 points from Saddiq Bey. New Orleans shot just 41.7% overall and allowed Orlando to grab 57 rebounds.

  • The game will take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

The players

Brice Sensabaugh

A Jazz player who scored 34 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the team's last game against the Thunder.

Saddiq Bey

A Pelicans player who tallied 32 points in 39 minutes of action in New Orleans' most recent loss to the Magic.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to fight and compete, even as the season winds down. These final games are important for player development and building momentum for next year.”

— Willie Green, Pelicans Head Coach

What’s next

The Pelicans will look to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Jazz will try to avoid their 59th loss of the season.

The takeaway

With both teams well out of playoff contention, this matchup between the Pelicans and Jazz provides an opportunity for young players to gain valuable experience as the 2025-26 NBA season comes to a close.