Hayward, Favors lead Jazz past Grizzlies, 93-82

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Gordon Hayward started the second half hot, and the rest of his Jazz teammates followed his lead.

Utah shot 64 percent after the break and clamped down to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-82 on Tuesday night.

Hayward and Derrick Favors led Utah with 21 points each, while Rudy Gobert scored 15 and grabbed a career-best 24 rebounds. Rodney Hood finished with 13 points.

Hayward's production came after he was limited to six points in the first half, missing seven of nine shots. The shooting struggles Hayward endured in the first half, disappeared in the third quarter. He got free for a couple of inside buckets early, then extended the distance with jumpers, hitting five of his first six shots in the period.

"I was getting real good looks and not knocking them down," Hayward said of the first half. "To have one easy layup go in really helped me out."

But it wasn't just Hayward who was shooting better. The Jazz struggled at just under 30 percent in the first half. In the second half, Utah connected on 23 of 36 shots, including 7 of 10 from Hayward. Gobert missed only one of his six shots after halftime and Hood was 3 of 4, including 2 of 3 from outside the arc.

Courtney Lee led Memphis with 18 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Jordan Adams added 13 points on 6 for 8 shooting, while Mike Conley scored 11, but was 4 of 11 from the field.

The Grizzlies, who have lost three of four, were short-handed with starting forward Zach Randolph and reserve guard Beno Udrih out with illness, and defensive stalwart Tony Allen suspended for the game due to a violation of team policy.

"It was a tough night for us," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "I was encouraged. I thought that was the hardest we've played. The ball will start falling for us."

The absence of Randolph, Memphis' leading rebounder, left open space for Gobert, who had six offensive rebounds in his total.

"I was just playing, play after play," Gobert said.

"Rudy is a presence," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "He gets a lot of second-chance points which is important. He dominated the glass, and he contests."

For Memphis, the game was the latest example of a team that is struggling offensively. Not only did the Grizzlies shoot 40 percent for the night, but failed to reach 100 points for the ninth time in 10 games.

"Shots weren't falling," Lee said. "That can never be the case. We can't lose that way. Our offense should never leave our defense out to dry."

TIP-INS

Jazz: Utah, second in the league in blocks at six a game, had seven against Memphis. ... Gobert's previous high in rebounds was 18 against the Spurs on Jan. 18. ... The Jazz won three straight for the first time this season.

Grizzlies: Outscored the Jazz 20-19 in opening quarter. That broke a string of six straight first quarters where opponents had outscored Memphis. ... The Grizzlies were 6-0 on Tuesdays before the loss to the Jazz.

ALLEN SUSPENSION

Allen's suspension was unknown until about 90 minutes before game time. Joerger did not elaborate on the policy Allen violated, adding the suspension was only for one game, and he expected all sides to move on after Tuesday.

GO GO GOBERT

Gobert's career-best 24 rebounds was three short of the Jazz franchise record of 27 set twice by Truck Robinson, both in the 1977-78 season. Gobert's mark was the most by a Grizzlies opponent in franchise history.

PLAYOFF WATCH

Despite the loss, Memphis remained a game and a half ahead of Houston for the second spot in the Western Conference after Atlanta defeated the Rockets 104-96 on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Jazz: At Boston on Wednesday.

Grizzlies: At Houston on Wednesday.