The Utah Jazz started off hot and then closed strong en route to a 106-87 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz (48-30) have won four of their last five games and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings (one game ahead of the LA Clippers).
Utah played shorthanded (without Rodney Hood, George Hill, Derrick Favors and Raul Neto) but Gordon Hayward stepped up in a big way and carried the team on offense. Hayward was on fire from all over the court, finishing with 30 points on 12-for-20 shooting.