Cavaliers fall behind, strike sour note vs. Jazz

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY

Gordon Hayward went blow for blow with LeBron James in the second half to help the Utah Jazz beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-92 on Tuesday night.

Hayward had 22 points and went back and forth with James during a decisive third quarter. James brought the Cavs back from a 15-point halftime deficit before Hayward drove the lead back to 14.

Hayward had 11 points while the Jazz used a 16-0 run midway through the quarter to lead 74-60. The Cavs had a 17-0 roll after halftime thanks an aggressive James and his 13 third-quarter points.

Trey Lyles had eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz hold on.

James finished with 29 points and Kyrie Irving added 20 for the defending champs.

The Jazz led 56-41 at halftime after closing the second quarter on a 10-0 run highlighted by Hayward’s alley-oop and 3-pointers from George Hill and Rodney Hood. Utah dominated the second quarter 27-12 while shooting 50 percent in the first half.

DEBUT

Kyle Korver made his first appearance with the Cavs after being traded in a deal that sent Mike Dunleavy, Mo Williams, a protected first-round pick and cash considerations to the Hawks. He scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in 17 minutes.

“I’ve always felt the better the players are around me, the better I can be,” Korver said. “And this is the most talented team I’ve ever been on.”

HEALTHY

The suddenly healthy Jazz started Hill, Hood, Hayward, Derrick Favors and Gobert for just the sixth time. The Jazz are now 5-1 when that unit starts.

“It’s different, that’s for sure,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said about having the full roster available. “I hesitate to say it’s more challenging. It’s different for the players, too. We’ll have to find out more about ourselves and guys individually and how they play together.”