The Jazz dropped the first of a two-game tank-off with the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, falling 136-123 at the Smoothie King Center.

It’s been a difficult first half of the season for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz, but they’ll square off Friday night in a matchup of two teams

The Utah Jazz have hit the cellar of the Western Conference. Zion Williamson highlighted a 24-point, 14-rebound performance with an array of thunderous dunks during a dominant fourth-quarter stint, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 136-123 on Friday night to open a two-game set.

And on this roadtrip, where the Jazz will face the Pelicans once more on Monday night, it was really, really important for the Jazz decision makers to find a way to finagle a loss against the Pelicans.