Hayward, Jazz add to Miami's woes, top Heat 102-91
MIAMI (AP) - Gordon Hayward scored 25 points, Rodney Hood added 17 and the Utah Jazz beat Miami 102-91 on Saturday night, handing the Heat a fourth consecutive loss.
Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Utah, which used a 15-0 run midway through the game to pull away. Shelvin Mack scored 12 for Utah, while former Heat forward Joe Johnson and Dante Exum each added 10.
Hassan Whiteside had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Miami. James Johnson scored 15 points, Rodney McGruder added 14 and Josh Richardson finished with 12.
Utah was without George Hill (right thumb) and Boris Diaw (right knee) again, then lost Derrick Favors to left knee soreness in the first quarter. But a night after holding Orlando to 74 points, the Jazz limited Miami to 59 through three quarters - building more than enough cushion to endure a Heat rally try in the fourth.
At 2-6, Miami is off to its worst start since 2007-08.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Hayward has been in five games this season, and scored at least 20 in all of them. He did miss a free throw for the first time all season, after making his first 31. ... Utah went 4-1 on its five-game road trip. ... The Jazz won for the third time in their last 13 trips to Miami.
Heat: Whiteside has at least 10 rebounds in all eight games this season. ... Richardson got the start in the place of Goran Dragic (sprained left ankle). It was the first change to Miami's starters this season.
FAVORS HURTING
Favors made his first three shots, then went to the locker room after six minutes and was ruled out for the night. He had been logging bigger minutes of late, averaging nearly 34 in Utah's last three games.
ROTATION CHANGES
Heat forward Josh McRoberts made his season debut, finishing with four points in 12 minutes. Since coming to Miami, he's missed 112 of 172 regular-season games. And Derrick Williams, who played in just one of the first seven games, got some run ahead of Luke Babbitt. Williams scored 11 points in 20 minutes. Babbitt went 0 for 3, all from 3-point range, in the game's first 5 minutes and didn't return.
RINGS COMING
The 2016 NBA Development League championship banner was unfurled before the Sioux Falls Skyforce - Miami's affiliate - played their home opener Saturday in South Dakoka. Heat assistant coaches Dan Craig and Octavio de la Grana, who coached Sioux Falls last season, will get their championship rings before an upcoming Miami home game.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Memphis on Monday. After opening with eight of 11 on the road, Utah gets a two-game homestand.
Heat: Visit San Antonio on Monday. It's a one-game trip for Miami, wrapping up the season series with the Spurs.