Utah got out to a hot start and jumped out on Cleveland early, taking a 32-23 lead after the first quarter. The Cavs fought back in the second, but the Jazz responded and extended their lead to 11 points at the break.
LeBron James took charge in the third quarter as Cleveland cut the deficit to 76-75 going into the 4th quarter and got fouled shooting a three-pointer to tie the game with just over three seconds left, and promptly went to the free throw line and knocked all three shots down to tie the game at 100.
However, that left enough time for Gordon Hayward to catch the inbounds pass, create space, and drain a buzzer-beater as time ran out, giving Utah the win.
Turning Point:
It has to be Hayward's game-winner. He sent all Jazz fans home happy after it looked like the team had choked away a double-digit lead.
Key Stat:
The Cavaliers only had six assists on the night, which is the prime indicator of why they've struggled so much on offense. They didn't move the ball at all and looked out of sync all night long.
Cleveland MVP:
LeBron James finally asserted himself as the Cavs' primary option on offense, and when he did, Cleveland starting coming back. He finished with 31 points and four assists, but his biggest impact could be seen in his leadership.
Kyrie Irving also had a big impact with 34 points, yet had zero assists - a big no-no for any starting point guard.
Utah MVP:
Gordon Hayward showed why the Jazz gave him a max contract extension this summer, dropping 21 points and seven assists while spearheading Utah's attack all night long.
Oh yeah, he won the game for them, too.
What Did We Learn?
The Cavaliers showed they could play great defense when they applied themselves, but their lack of offensive cohesion is still concerning. We expected them to have struggles when they first started playing together, but they're relying almost entirely on isolation basketball.
On the other hand, Utah showed they have the makings of being of the league's better offensive teams. They had terrific ball movement all night and consistently found open players in scoring positions. The Jazz are still a year or two away from becoming a playoff team, but all the pieces are there.
What’s Next?
Cleveland has a day off before facing the Nuggets in Denver, while Utah stays home to play the Mavericks on Friday.
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