Flash Gordon

Gordon Hayward came back after 10 games out with a right shoulder sprain to ignite the Utah Jazz to a convincing home 115-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. With this victory, the Jazz moved into a virtual tie with the Warriors for 6th place in the Western Conference, as the season rolls on to its business phase.

While Utah is steadily improving with its third straight win, the Warriors are slumping with their sixth straight loss. The Warriors just lack cohesion and determination right now, and their defense continues to allow opponents a ton of points. For the Jazz, they are looking better and better. In this game, apart from Hayward, their marquee guys Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap stepped up with solid games. Every time Golden State tried to mount a comeback, the Jazz always had an answer for it.

In the end, seven Utah players finished the game with double figures in points, showing their overall team depth, which is going to be a key factor in their playoffs journey. With Mo Williams set to return from thumb surgery, another integral factor of the Jazz will be back, making the team more or less complete. I think they will be one of the dark horses in the Playoffs, considering their strong home form. But that's provided they can get this increasingly-cohesive team of individuals together come trade deadline day, which is certainly what coach Tyrone Corbin wants.

I was impressed with Gordon Hayward in this game. He played within the team dynamic, unselfishly passing the ball to better-placed opponents and always playing under control. When the opportunity arose, he either drove or shot the ball well, coming up with 14 points and 4 assists in the end. But the play of the night undoubtedly belonged to Alec Burks, who squeezed his way past two defenders in the lane and somehow managed to spin a reverse lay-up on the fore-flow with just the right amount of English into the net. It was a brilliant play, just like the Jazz.