Jazz Loss to Pelicans Further Boosts Draft Lottery Odds, Bamba Returns on 10-Day Contract

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 115-105 on Saturday, February 28, 2026, marking their fourth consecutive loss since the All-Star break and their fifth straight overall. The defeat, though, may subtly improve the Jazz’s chances of securing a high pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

Isaiah Collier led the Jazz with 21 points, while Saddiq Bey paced the Pelicans with 24 points. Zion Williamson left the game in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return, finishing with four points, two assists, and one rebound in 11 minutes of play ESPN.

Draft Lottery Implications

With the loss, the Jazz now hold an 18-42 record, placing them just half a game ahead of the Pelicans for the fifth-worst record in the NBA with 22 games remaining in the season. Each loss increases the probability that the Jazz will retain their first-round draft pick, which is currently at risk of being conveyed to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

If the standings remain unchanged, the Jazz would have a 99.4% chance of keeping their draft pick, requiring four teams to surpass them in the lottery standings to lose it ESPN, slcdunk.com.

Despite these favorable odds, the NBA draft lottery has produced unexpected results in recent years. In 2024, the Jazz, entering with the eighth-worst record, fell to the 10th pick. Similarly, in 2025, despite finishing with the league’s worst record, they dropped to the fifth pick, while the Dallas Mavericks secured the top overall pick slcdunk.com.

Currently, with the fifth-worst record, the Jazz have a 42.1% chance of moving into the top four of the draft order. The Jazz have never moved up in the lottery with their own selection.

Mo Bamba Signs 10-Day Contract

The Jazz addressed their frontcourt injury issues by signing Mo Bamba to a 10-day contract. Bamba previously spent time with the team during the preseason and, before that, with the Toronto Raptors. He has spent much of the 2025-26 season with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League.

In 22 games with the Stars, Bamba averaged 17.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, shooting 55% from the field and 38% from three-point range slcdunk.com.

Jazz coach Will Hardy noted that Bamba has a decent understanding of the team’s playbook due to the similarities in coaching philosophies between the Jazz and the Stars slcdunk.com.

Bamba’s initial 10-day contract expires on March 10, and he is eligible to sign a second 10-day contract with the team.

Next Game

The Jazz will next host the Denver Nuggets on Monday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and broadcast on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.