SALT LAKE CITY – Gordon Hayward had 27 points and 10 assists and Richard Jefferson added 22 points to help the Utah Jazz claim their first victory of the season, a 111-105 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Hayward scored 22 points in the second half and the Jazz erased a 16-point deficit to put an end to their worst start in 39 years.
Derrick Favors made a key layup with 24 seconds remaining and Jefferson added three free throws in the final minute to clinch the victory.
When Marvin Williams hit a 3-pointer to make it 104-100, Jazz fans leapt to their feet and the Utah reserves bounced around and high-fived like college players in a postseason tournament.
Enes Kanter had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who overcame their worst start to a season since 1974-75, their first year as an expansion franchise in New Orleans.
Anthony Davis had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans, who dropped all three games on their Western road swing.
Tyreke Evans, an offseason trade acquisition who has struggled to find his role in the New Orleans scheme, had a season-high 19 points, with almost all of them coming on drives to the basket. Jrue Holiday added 19 points to help keep the Pelicans in control for most the game.
Jason Smith made a layup just after halftime to give New Orleans a 61-45 lead. Jefferson became the focal point of a dormant Utah offense in the third quarter and scored nine points in a 13-2 run.
The last time Jefferson scored 22 points was more than three years ago as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. But the young Jazz needed the 12-year veteran, as well as the contributions of fellow "old-timer" Williams, who had 12 points and a key block on Holiday in the final minute.
The Pelicans built the lead back to 10 before Hayward tied the game at 70 with his second 3-pointer during a burst of 10 straight points for the Jazz.
Diante Garrett, who was set to play for Iowa of the D-League, arrived in Salt Lake City on Tuesday and ended up playing 22 minutes for the Jazz, who need a point guard while they await the debut of lottery pick Trey Burke.
Burke is a few weeks from playing while recovering from a fractured finger. The Jazz released Jamaal Tinsley and benched John Lucas III after an 0-for-7 shooting start in the game. Garrett had seven points and five assists and was running the point in crunch time.
NOTES: Two of the worst-shooting teams in the league combined to make more than half their attempts, with the Jazz shooting 51.4 percent. ... Hayward spent part of the first half with a ice bag on his lower leg following a collision in the first quarter. ... Greg Stiemsma sat out the game due to a left knee he sprained in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers. ... The final margin was Utah's largest lead of the game.
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