George's career-high 48 not enough, Jazz beat Pacers in OT
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah coach Quin Snyder asked for more from Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward, and they responded.
Favors scored a career-high 35 points, and the Jazz rallied for a 122-119 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night despite a career-high 48 by Paul George.
Snyder challenged Favors and Hayward during practice on Friday. The Jazz were coming off consecutive losses and trying to find their way without 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert, who is out with a left knee injury.
Favors went 14 for 24 from the field against Indiana, and also had 13 rebounds. Hayward had 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
''Terrific, terrific job by both of them,'' Snyder said. ''I asked them for that. We needed those two guys to step up. Our two best players.
''We'll figure some of the other stuff out. It may not look pretty all the time. It may not be successful all of the time. But we'll keep grinding.''
Favors converted a three-point play to help send the game to overtime, and then added six more points in the extra period. Favors had a layup off a pick-and-roll with Trey Burke with 17.1 seconds left, and George Hill missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
''I work on my craft so much, I had that feeling the whole game,'' Favors said. ''Last game against Orlando I was kind of pressing a little bit. This game I calmed down and let the game come to me.
''(It was) one of those emotional-type games. ... Everybody stepped up.''
Indiana wasted career night from George, who carried the offensive load. But two missed jumpers down the stretch of regulation helped Utah come back.
''No question this one really stings,'' Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. ''We played well enough to win. A couple of break downs late, couple of rebounds we just didn't do enough to finish it. So it hurts.''
The Jazz jumped to a 24-12 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 10-0 run and some cold shooting from the Pacers. They started the game shooting 27 percent from the field and 1 for 6 from behind the arc.
Indiana chipped away thanks to 20 first-half points from George, but a turnover and a Burke layup seconds before halftime lifted the Jazz to a 57-52 lead at the break.
The Jazz started the third quarter with a 14-2 run, but George continued to hit shot after shot. The teams were tied at 84 heading into the fourth quarter.
''It really hurts, especially to be up and winning and not taking care of business to close this one out,'' George said.
TIP-INS
Pacers: Monta Ellis started despite being questionable with a right shoulder contusion. ... C.J. Miles scored 12 points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field. ... Indiana was outrebounded 54-44.
Jazz: Burke had 19 points and seven assists. ... Utah fouled a 3-point shooter four times in the first half. ... Rookie Trey Lyles made his third start of the season and played just under 20 minutes. ... Rodney Hood fouled out in the fourth quarter with six points.
RUNNING THIN
The Jazz are running short on big bodies. Gobert is out for the foreseeable future. Trevor Booker has been sick, so Lyles started in his place. Booker held up well, but the Jazz have a thin rotation of big men.
''There are no clear answers for our team right now as far as rotations and substitutions go,'' Snyder said. ''It's all uncharted waters.''
BRAZILIAN DELIGHT
Jazz rookie Raul Neto scored a career-high 13 points. He was feeling it immediately after halftime, scoring 10 quick points, including a spinning, flick-of-the-wrist shot while being fouled and facing the other direction.
QUOTABLE
''Grit, man, it was unbelievable,'' Hayward said. ''I think this is a game you look back and kind of scratch your head at how we clawed our way back into it. Just a game with perseverance, fight, tenacity.''
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Golden State on Tuesday.
Jazz: Visit Sacramento on Tuesday.
