Derrick Favors scored 23 points and Rodney Hood added 20 for the Jazz, who closed within a game of Northwest leader Oklahoma City, which was comfortably beaten at home by Boston.
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The Atlanta Hawks fell to the Utah Jazz in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday evening by a score of 97-96 – their third loss in their last four games. Favors, who grew up in Atlanta & played one season at Georgia Tech before turning skilled, shot 11-for-20 from the sector.
The Hawks trailed the Jazz by seven points, 95-88, with 2:20 remaining.
Favors also made an 18-footer as the shot clock was running out with 38 seconds left to extend Utah’s lead to four points.
Marcus Smart scored a career-high 26 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-85 on Sunday night. All season long Favors has been far and away the Jazz’s best and most consistent player. “But we were able to win the game tonight”.
GRIZZLIES 114, TIMBERWOLVES 106: In Minneapolis, Jeff Green scored a season-high 21 points, and Mike Conley matched his season-high with 20 points to go with six assists and Memphis won its second straight after losing four in a row.
“It looked like it was going in, but it went in and out and I went ‘ooh, ‘” said Favors. But two close games and then kind of drained on that last one. Raul Neto is the starter and Trey Burke, a prized lottery pick two years ago, is the backup and playing well in that role. While Gobert is the key piece of the Jazz’s defense and Gordon Hayward tends to be the go-to guy on offense, Gobert’s unrefined offense and Hayward’s overwhelming inconsistency have allowed Favors to emerge as the Jazz’s early season leader as he continues to be the most reliable option on the offensive end. “We want to make the playoffs, so we need to put a few wins together”. “It’s a simplistic challenge”.
“Paul got a great look”, Budenholzer said.
Coach Mike Budenholzer hopes to return to the Atlanta Hawks “as soon as possible” after taking a leave of absence to be with his ailing wife.
Of the team’s overall record, good for second in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers, Budenholzer acknowledged the inconsistency. Atlanta has lost two straight. Patterson was active, but did not play.
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Hawks: G Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired from NY for a first-round pick on draft night, still hasn’t played this season. He is day-to-day…. Up next: Atlanta plays at Brooklyn on Tuesday. Well deserved. The Jazz play next, at home, against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
