Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat, left, defends against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Shelvin Mack scored a career-high 27 points as the Utah Jazz beat the Washington Wizards 114-93 on Friday night.
Mack shot 11 for 17 from the field with an array of interior floaters and three 3-pointers. Gordon Hayward had 18 points and Rodney Hood added 14 for Utah.
The Jazz broke a two-game skid, but remained three games behind Houston for eighth place in the Western Conference.
John Wall had 24 points and nine assists, and Markieff Morris added 16 points for Washington, which lost its fourth straight to fall 2 1/2 games behind Detroit for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Utah pulled away in the third, ending the quarter with a 22-10 run and a pair of fast-break layups by Chris Johnson.
The Jazz led 56-48 at halftime after closing the second quarter on a 15-8 run.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Bradley Beal missed his second consecutive game with a sprained pelvis. ... Alan Anderson played despite being listed as questionable with a left ankle issue. ... Ramon Sessions was the lone player with a positive plus-minus. He finished plus-1. ... Washington shot 29 percent from behind the arc.
Jazz: Hood returned to the starting lineup after missing one game with a lower back soreness. ... The Jazz shot 57 percent from the floor and 56 percent from 3-point range. ... Utah outrebounded Washington 42-29.
SCENERY CHANGE
Morris entered the game averaging 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds in four starts since being traded to the Wizards. He had 12 points at halftime Friday and his 16 matched a season-high in 12 games with Washington.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Rudy Gobert had 11 rebounds and now has 77 in the last five games. He entered the game averaging 11.0 boards in 44 games.
GET BACK
Jazz coach Quin Snyder spoke before the game about Wall's speed in transition and the need to get multiple players back on defense to keep him from getting easy baskets on the break. The plan worked in the first half as the Wizards failed to score a single fast-break point. Washington finished with just six fast break points.
UP NEXT
Wizards: At Denver on Saturday.
Jazz: At Sacramento on Sunday.
Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) shoots as Washington Wizards center Nene Hilario, left, defends during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) drives around Utah Jazz guard Raul Neto, center, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
Washington Wizards guard Ramon Sessions (7) dunks the ball as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, right, looks on during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder shouts to his team during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Washington Wizards guard Ramon Sessions (7) dunks the ball as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, left, defends during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
Washington Wizards' John Wall (2) shoots as Marcin Gortat (13) screens Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack, left, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) goes to the basket as Washington Wizards' Marcin Gortat, right, defends while Markieff Morris (5) looks on during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman shouts to his team during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat, right, knocks the ball from Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, left, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press