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 On Friday, the small forward showed that he at least belongs in
that conversation.
Hayward had a huge game and the Utah Jazz snapped a six-game losing
streak to the Golden State Warriors with a 110-100 win on Friday
night at EnergySolutions Arena.
"It was an all-around effort by everybody. Great game," Hayward
said. "I thought we really moved the ball for the most part. ... We
have been struggling with (turnovers), so it was a great win."
Some believed Hayward, averaging 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1
assists, deserved All-Star consideration. He sure looked like it
against the Warriors, racking up 24 points, 15 rebounds, six assists
and three steals to lead Utah.
Hayward, the first player in the NBA to reach those numbers in a
game this season, helped Utah (17-30) win for the first time in
three games.
"I think he has always risen to a challenge and a matchup (with Klay
Thompson), and I think he played really well and really hard
defensively," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "Obviously, his biggest
thing was his rebounding."
 Golden State All-Star guard Steph Curry scored a game-high 32 points
and had seven rebounds and six assists, but the Warriors (36-8)
experienced a rare off night while losing for the second time in a
row.
"We didn't have enough life to win a game on the road against a
hungry, young team that's playing a lot better," Warriors coach
Steve Kerr said. "And they took it to us."
Golden State never led, falling behind by 10 early (20-10) and by as
many as 18 points. The Warriors fought back within six points late
in the fourth quarter but couldn't get a crucial rebound in the
final 30 seconds and left with the loss.
"No energy, no bounce coming out of the gate," Warriors center
Andrew Bogut said after scoring just four points with four rebounds.
"Can't afford to do that against any team in the league, so we
deserved to lose."
Jazz power forwards Trevor Booker and Derrick Favors scored 17 and
15 points, respectively, and Utah reserve center Rudy Gobert added a
double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Warriors entered the game having missed nine straight 3-pointers
since halftime of their overtime loss to Chicago on Tuesday. They
missed their first six from deep until Curry hit back-to-back
long-range shots late in the first half.
Utah had the hotter hand, hitting 9 of 25 from 3-point land,
including three treys from backup point guard Trey Burke and two
from Booker. Burke finished with 15 points.
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There was a scary moment in the third quarter when rookie point
guard Dante Exum was hit hard in the throat by Warriors forward
Draymond Green.
Exum immediately grasped his throat and then threw up in the arena
tunnel en route to the Jazz locker room. He was evaluated by the
team's medical staff and was cleared to re-enter the game later in
the half.
Burke missed two free throws with 22 seconds remaining and the Jazz
up by six, but forward Joe Ingles got an offensive rebound and hit
two foul shots to give Utah a 108-100 lead.
All-Star selection Klay Thompson only had 12 points.
"We can play well. We can play bad," Gobert said. "We just have to
make sure to stay at a high level."
NOTES: PF Enes Kanter caused a bit of a stir Friday with some
shootaround comments about the Warriors. Kanter, when asked about
Klay Thompson's record 37-point quarter: "But who cares?" He added
that the Jazz have the talent to guard him. Then Kanter had this to
say about Warriors C Andrew Bogut: "Big guy, knows a little Turkish.
... Nothing special." Jazz coach Quin Snyder called the remarks "ill
advised." Added Snyder: "What Klay did the other night was
remarkable, and Bogut might be the best center in the league. Let's
set the record straight." ... Three Australian players were on the
court to start the game: Golden State's Bogut along with Utah
rookies Dante Exum and Joe Ingles. Bogut played collegiately across
town at the University of Utah. .... Stephen Curry's dad, Dell
Curry, began his career with the Jazz in 1986.
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