Jazz (25-28), Pelicans (28-25)
DeMarcus Cousins’ season-ending injury figured to be most costly for New Orleans on the offensive end, with the Pelicans playing without one of the NBA’s leading scorers. In five games since the four-time All-Star was sidelined, however, the defensive end has been a much bigger problem. On Monday, Utah continued a recent trend that has contributed significantly to New Orleans going just 1-4 without Cousins, putting up big offensive numbers and shooting a high percentage from the field. The Pelicans allowed 110-plus points for the fourth time in the last five games; not coincidentally, all of those instances have been losses, while their lone victory consisting of holding Oklahoma City to 100 points.