Hayward leads Jazz past woeful, Kobe-less Lakers


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SALT LAKE CITY — A few short years ago, a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz would’ve meant a battle for playoff position in the NBA’s Western Conference.

Now, it’s a battle to avoid falling into the basement of the Western Conference — not quite, but almost. Both teams aren’t what they were a half-decade ago, with the Jazz squarely in the middle of a rebuilding process. The Lakers are still trying to contend, attempting to milk the final years out of the Kobe Bryant era.

In the battle of the rebuilding franchises, Utah prevailed over the visiting Lakers 94-85.

Jazz forward Gordon Hayward scored a game-high 31 points, making 12-of-18 shots from the floor. Hayward also made 4-of-7 3-point shots, and said he had a good rhythm from the beginning of the game.

“I got some easy ones in transition tonight,” said Hayward, who also contributed seven assists. “Especially when you get that early, it opens it up. You get a rhythm going, and you can have a big night.

“Our team needs me to be aggressive, to try to help us score on the offensive end. Whether that’s being a playmaker or scoring myself, I need to make sure I’m aggressive.”

Hayward scored 16 points in the first quarter, but the rest of the team struggled offensively. The Jazz shot 37.2 percent and made just 3-of-13 3-point shots in the first half.

Utah held a 44-43 halftime lead, but the Lakers went on a 12-7 run to open the third quarter. Still, the Jazz responded to take a 70-63 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder said the Lakers’ early success came from a lack of intensity and focus.

Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) battle under the boards for a rebound in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) battle under the boards for a rebound in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

“At the beginning of the third quarter, they were playing harder than we were,” he said. “We just needed to raise our level, and when we did that defensively, we got a couple buckets in transition that got us on track a little bit. And, during that stretch, we executed very well in the half court.”

Taking a more positive tone, point guard Trey Burke said the run exemplified the type of team Utah is becoming.

“It was big for us,” said Burke, who finished with 20 points. “I consider us a second-half team. In the first half, it was up-and-down; we had some positive plays, we had some negative plays. Second half, we knew we had to come out with a different mindset and a different focus.”

Utah opened the game up in the fourth quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 24-22. The Jazz shot 42.9 percent in the quarter and 50 percent from 3-point range (5-for-10).

After losing three consecutive games, including a 116-105 loss to Golden State Tuesday, the Jazz welcomed rookie wing Rodney Hood back to the lineup. Hood missed the previous seven games with foot problems but returned to score 5 points in 21 minutes.

With the losing streak in mind, Snyder said he was hopeful Hood’s return to the bench would jump-start the entire lineup.

“Rodney’s a guy that’s played with some energy,” he said. “He does some things without the basketball that I really like. There’s been plenty of times where you look and he’s not available, and you wish you had him.”

The Jazz have another three-game road trip upcoming, with games starting Sunday against defending champion San Antonio.

Utah will hit the midway point of the season after Sunday’s game. Halfway through his first season as an NBA head coach, Snyder said he continues to measure the Jazz in terms of growth.

“We’re improving a little bit, and it shows,” said Snyder, as the Jazz sit at 14-26 after the win over the Lakers. “I’m pretty determined not to judge this team based on wins and losses right now. I’d like to continue to use a different way to evaluate our success.”

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Jon Oglesby

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