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 "That was a big game for us," Favors said.
A big finish that included the first game-winner for the 22-year-old
Favors on any level of basketball.
"The play was to set a screen for G (Gordon Hayward) and let G do
what he do," Favors said. "The two big guys for the Lakers went over
and altered his shot a little bit. It went off the rim and I was
just there for the offensive rebound."
Lakers guard Jodie Meeks' attempt from deep in 3-point territory was
well short at the buzzer as short-handed Los Angeles (13-17) dropped
its fourth game in a row.
Hayward led all scorers with 24 points to lift the Jazz (9-23) to a
win in their first home game after a five-game road trip.
"The poise we showed down the stretch after we gave up a little lead
to fight back and make a big play by Derrick and Gordon to win the
game shows growth," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "These are the
type of games that the young guys have to go through to learn how to
finish games and the mistakes not to make. It's great to get a win
while we're still winning."
Guard Nick Young led the Lakers with 21 points, but he didn't play
the last half of the fourth quarter after fouling out. Young doesn't
believe LA gets the same amount of respect without Kobe Bryant on
the court.
"I feel like we don't get the proper respect that everybody else
gets when it comes to certain things out there on the court," he
said.
Backup Lakers big man Jordan Hill scored four straight points,
including free throws with 18.6 remaining to tie the score at 103.
After a timeout, Hayward drove to the basket and drew three Lakers
defenders on him. Hayward's shot rimmed off, but nobody from LA
blocked Favors out and the 6-foot-10 center slammed in the go-ahead
bucket.
"That's a reaction that players have," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni
said when asked about the Lakers defense, which left Favors open on
the final rebound and dunk. "But also X (Xavier Henry) could have
peeled off. Once Hayward got by him and you're chasing, then you
could peel off and knock Favors off. But those are instincts. Those
are things that happen and you can't fault the hustle from our
guys."
Favors finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Power forward Marvin
Williams scored 16 and rookie point guard Trey Burke had 14 points
and seven assists despite twisting an ankle in the first half.
Center Chris Kaman started for the Lakers, finishing with 19 points
and 10 rebounds. Hill and guard Jordan Farmar each scored 16 for LA.
"Chris played well. He has done a great job of staying a
professional, waiting his turn," Farmar said. "Just continuing to
work on his game and staying ready. That is what it is about in this
business."
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The Lakers were forced into using their 15th different
starting lineup this season — and their sixth in six games — because of injuries and illness.
Center Pau Gasol didn't travel to Utah because of an upper
respiratory infection that has been bothering him for a while.
The Lakers were also without Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee),
Steve Nash (nerve root irritation) and Steve Blake (torn ulnar
collateral ligament).
Los Angeles' starting five included Farmar, Kaman, Meeks and
forwards Wesley Johnson and Shawne Williams.
The Jazz travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Saturday
and the Lakers return home for a Sunday game against
Philadelphia.
The Lakers made a game of it late despite Young's absence.
Before he picked up his fifth foul in the middle of the fourth
quarter, Young capped a 9-0 LA run to put the visitors up 74-72.
He then was taken out of the game at the 6:44 mark after fouling
Jazz guard Alec Burks for his fifth personal foul.
Shortly after Young went to the bench, Hayward put the Jazz up
96-90 with an explosive breakaway dunk.
Young returned right after that and fouled out seconds later
with 5:45 left. He sat on the baseline for a moment, left the
arena and then returned to the bench for the remainder of the
game.
The Lakers certainly could have used his 10-of-17 shooting touch
on that final 3-point attempt. Meeks ended up taking a 31-footer
that didn't come close.
"It wasn't good," D'Antoni said of the game's last possession.
"We broke it early and it wasn't executed real well and,
probably, the play wasn't very good, either. It's just one of
those things (where) sometimes it works and sometimes it
doesn't. We wanted a better look, though."
The Jazz, who went 2-3 on their recent trip that ended with a
loss Monday in Memphis, hadn't won at home since beating Houston
109-103 on Dec. 2.
NOTES: Jazz SG Gordon Hayward flew to Indianapolis from Memphis
the day after Utah played the Grizzlies to surprise his
girlfriend with a Christmas marriage proposal. He announced the
results on Twitter and Instagram: "Merry Christmas to everyone
out there! Hope it's a good one! Mine was especially good
(because) SHE SAID YES!!!! So thrilled I get to marry my best
friend and such an amazing person @robynvanvliet! I love you!!!"
... Phil Johnson, Jerry Sloan's longtime assistant with the
Jazz, once coached Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni with the Kansas
City Kings. ... The NBA announced that it's taking the
Lakers-Rockets game on Jan. 8 off of ESPN and replacing it with
a Suns-Timberwolves contest. ... Jazz SF Mike Harris has been
excused from the Jazz for this weekend's games to be with his
family for the birth of his newborn child.
[© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2013 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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