Hayward's 31 points help Jazz slip past Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- Gordon Hayward scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and the Utah Jazz snapped a three-game losing streak with a 102-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Joe Ingles came off the bench to score 13 points, and Ruby Gobert collected 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz (19-13). Utah improved to 3-0 this season against the Lakers.
The Lakers got 25 points and 12 rebounds from Julius Randle and 22 points from Lou Williams. Jordan Clarkson added 12 points for Los Angeles (12-23).
The teams exchanged leads down the stretch. Los Angeles' D'Angelo Russell made a jumper to tie the score at 95, but Hayward converted two free throws for a 97-95 edge. However, the Lakers snatched the lead on consecutive buckets by Randle to go up 99-97 with 1:09 remaining.
Gobert scored inside to knot the score again at 99 with 56.5 seconds left.
After the Lakers committed a 24-second clock violation, another trey by Ingles boosted the Jazz to a 102-99 advantage.
Randle converted one of two foul shots with 14 seconds remaining to slice the margin to two, and the Lakers got a break when Gobert missed a pair of foul shots with 13.1 seconds left.
However, Russell, who made just 2 of 11 shots and missed all three of his 3-point attempts, fired an airball from behind the arc just before the final horn, allowing Utah to prevail.
Both clubs struggled offensively in the third quarter. The Jazz managed to make 40 percent of their shots to only 36.8 percent for the Lakers. However, the Lakers, who outscored the Jazz 24-22 in the quarter, held a 74-72 edge heading into the final period.
The Lakers led 52-48 at the break despite being outshot 51.3 percent to 46.8 percent by the Jazz. The Lakers also had trouble hitting 3-pointers, misfiring on 9 of 10 attempts while the Jazz made 5 of 16 (31.3 percent).
For the game, Utah shot 50.7 percent to 47 percent for Los Angeles.
The game featured 18 lead changes and 13 ties.
NOTES: Jazz G George Hill (sprained left big toe) practiced Monday and participated in the team's shootaround Tuesday but did not play Tuesday night. Hill, who missed his 13th game, is close to returning, although coach Quin Snyder did not say when. ... Utah G Dante Exum (left knee tendinitis) missed his third contest. ... Los Angeles F Larry Nance (bone bruise, left knee) began rehabbing this week. Nance is expected to be sidelined the next four weeks. ... Lakers assistant coach Mark Madsen underwent an appendectomy and is out indefinitely. ... The teams meet for the final time during the regular season Jan. 26 at Utah. ... Both clubs resume play Thursday at home. The Jazz face the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Lakers play the Dallas Mavericks.