Utah Jazz snap 8-game losing streak, Los Angeles Lakers lose 2nd straight
NBA: Utah Jazz broke their eight game losing streak as they de-rooted the Los Angeles Lakers 86-85 on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. The Lakers who were carrying
a 17-1 record after the All-Star break lost their second straight even after Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum overcame their knee injuries to play the game.
Paul Millsap posted a game high 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds and finished on a 7-for-18 shooting from the field. Gordon Hayward came off the bench to score 22
points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists in 34 plus minutes. The player also pinned two three-pointers in the win.
Kobe Bryant led his team with 20 points whereas Pau Gasol followed with 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in 32 minutes. Andrew Bynum added 12 and grabbed a remarkable
23 rebounds in 38 plus minutes.
Following the tip-off between Bynum and Derrick Favors, Gasol gained possession of the ball and clinched a jump shot to start the game. Millsap followed with a jumper
for Utah to tie the game at 2-all. Miles and Millsap hit two more shots in the next minutes as they raced onto a 6-2 advantage. The Lakers responded with a 16-2 run, but Utah would not give up. They mounted resurgence and by the end of first quarter, were
just four short of the opposition, 24-20.
Lakers played good defence in the second quarter to take a six point lead into the locker room, 40-34. Utah however, overpowered them in the third and that resulted
in a tie between the both at the end of the third, 57-57.
The final quarter was a cat and mouse chase. Utah responded to each shot made by the Lakers. With just seconds left in the game, Bryant tied the game at 85-all with
a long range effort. Utah however earned a foul on Bryant on the ensuing possession, which earned Hayward two free throws. Hayward missed one of the two free throws allotted, but was successful in pinning the second one, 86-85. Bryant then gave away a turnover
as Al Jefferson took a steal to seal a win for the Jazz.
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