Jazz 123, Lakers 75
SALT LAKE CITY -- Rodney Hood stole the spotlight from Kobe Bryant on Monday night, scoring 30 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 123-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hood scored all of his points in the first half when he went off from outside, hitting eight of nine 3-point attempts and 11 of 13 field-goal attempts overall.
Hood went scoreless in the second half -- as Bryant played tight defense on him after the first-half explosion -- but the red-hot Jazz were still able to increase their lead without his offensive help.
Utah improved to 37-37, reaching the .500 mark for the first time since they were 28-28 on Feb. 23.
Shelvin Mack and Trevor Booker each contributed 17 points, and Derrick Favors added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz. Rudy Gobert amassed 19 rebounds, eight points and four assists in Utah's largest win of the season.
Lou Williams scored 16 points and Jordan Clarkson chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, but the Lakers shot only 30.6 percent from the field in a rough showing.
Bryant struggled with his shot, making just one of 11 for five points in his final game in Utah. The Jazz will be the Lakers' final opponent in the last game of Bryant's 20-year career on April 13 in Los Angeles.
The Jazz had six players in double figures, also including Gordon Hayward (11 points, six assists) and Trey Lyles (11 points, eight rebounds).
But this night was all about Bryant and Hood.
Utah prepared a special video tribute for Bryant, giving a refreshingly honest tribute about his love-hate relationship with the Jazz and their fans.
Bryant gave Jazz owner Gail Miller and Jazz coach Quin Snyder hugs before tipoff. Though he received a cascade of cheers and boos during the game, the mixture of Jazz and Lakers fans gave him a rousing standing ovation when he exited the game for good early in the fourth quarter.
Bryant waved to the crowd multiple times.
The Jazz could do a video montage of Hood's night, too. Though he didn't even attempt a shot in the second half, the second-year guard finished with a career-high eight 3-pointers.
Gobert's rebounds and the Jazz's scoring were also season highs.
The Lakers, who lost at home to Washington on Sunday, fell to 15-59.
The Jazz played their first game back at Vivint Smart Home Arena after going 3-2 on a road trip. Seventh-place Utah holds a one-game lead over the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks in the battle for the final two Western Conference playoff positions.
NOTES: Kobe Bryant and Quin Snyder became good friends when the Jazz coach was a Lakers assistant in 2012-13. The two shared a brief on-court hug before tipoff Monday night. "I felt like I could really learn from him and I was very honest about that," Snyder said. "I also felt like I knew a little bit about what was going on and I think he respected the fact that I was willing to learn and I understood a little about the game where maybe I could help him every now and then." ... The Jazz honored longtime Utah player Andrei Kirilenko Monday. Kirilenko, who played for the Jazz from 2001-11, is ranked among the franchise's all-time leaders in eight different categories, including being No. 2 in blocks (1,380). "I consider myself as a Jazzman and I think all fans around the world they associate me with the Jazz," Kirilenko said. "Obviously (I have) so much experience and memories in here.