Preview: Jazz at Pelicans, Tuesday, April 7, 2026

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Two teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings will meet Tuesday night when the Utah Jazz visit the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

The matchup features a pair of struggling franchises playing out the final week of the regular season. The Pelicans (25-53) hold a slight edge in the standings over the Jazz (21-57). Both teams enter on significant losing streaks, with Utah having dropped nine of its last 10 games and New Orleans losing six of its last seven.

The game will offer a showcase for promising young talent on both sides. For the Jazz, rookie forward Cody Williams has been a consistent bright spot. He is coming off a 27-point, 11-rebound performance in a 140-106 loss to Houston on Friday and has scored 24 or more points in four of his last six outings.

The Pelicans will counter with guard Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 21.2 points over his last five games. He posted 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Friday’s 117-113 loss at Sacramento.

New Orleans has dominated the season series, winning both prior meetings in late February. The Pelicans earned a 129-118 victory in Salt Lake City on Feb. 26, followed by a 115-105 win two days later.

Utah’s defense has been a persistent issue, allowing an average of 130.7 points during its current three-game skid. The Jazz rank last in the NBA in defensive rating. New Orleans has also struggled to contain opponents, ranking in the bottom five in points allowed per game.

The Pelicans will complete a brief two-game homestand before embarking on a difficult road trip to face the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Jazz continue a three-game road swing, with games at Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers to follow.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT.