Pat Graham/NBA.com
Trey Lyles scored a career-high 22 points in an unexpected start, Gordon Hayward helped fuel a 24-0 third-quarter run and the Utah Jazz maintained their slim lead for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 100-84 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
All five starters reached double figures for the Jazz, who have a one-game cushion over Houston with two games remaining. The Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers earlier Sunday.
Lyles got the start when Derrick Favors was a late scratch because of right knee soreness. Hayward scored 10 of his 22 points in a pivotal third quarter that saw Utah turn the game into a rout.
Nikola Jokic and Emmanuel Mudiay each had 19 points as the Nuggets finished 0-4 against the Jazz this season. They averaged just 84.3 points against a stingy Utah defense.
Nikola Jokic and Emmanuel Mudiay each had 19 points as the Nuggets finished 0-4 against the Jazz this season. They averaged just 84.3 points against a stingy Utah defense.