Rookie Jeremiah Fears scores career-high 40 points in Pelicans' win over Jazz

Jordan Poole adds 22 of his 34 points in decisive third quarter as New Orleans ends 8-game skid

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:25am

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An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the movement and energy of a basketball game, with players' forms broken down into expressive brushstrokes and splashes of paint.The Pelicans' young stars shine in a high-scoring home finale, hinting at a promising future for the franchise.New Orleans Today

Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 40 points and Jordan Poole added 22 of his 34 points in a decisive third quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans closed out their home schedule with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz. Rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 points, Jordan Hawkins added a season-high 25, and rookie Derik Queen had 17 points with 12 rebounds as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak.

Why it matters

The win allows the Pelicans to end their home schedule on a high note, despite being eliminated from playoff contention. Fears' career-high performance and the team's offensive outburst provide a positive note heading into the offseason as the organization looks to build around its young core.

The details

Fears set a Pelicans franchise record for rookie points in a game as the team set a franchise mark for total points in a game. New Orleans shot 57.5% from the floor, tied for their second-best shooting performance of the season. The Jazz were without several key players due to injuries, including Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • The game was played on April 8, 2026.

The players

Jeremiah Fears

A rookie for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored a career-high 40 points in the win over the Utah Jazz.

Jordan Poole

A Pelicans player who scored 22 of his 34 points in the decisive third quarter.

Micah Peavy

A rookie for the Pelicans who scored a career-high 20 points in the game.

Jordan Hawkins

A Pelicans player who scored a season-high 25 points.

Derik Queen

A rookie for the Pelicans who had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

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The takeaway

The Pelicans' young core, led by impressive performances from rookies Jeremiah Fears, Micah Peavy, and Derik Queen, provided a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. The team's offensive outburst and record-setting night suggest the Pelicans have promising talent to build around heading into the offseason.