Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward Finds Scoring Touch vs. Golden State Warriors

After a dynamite run to end last season, Gordon Hayward has struggled at times for the Utah Jazz this year.

On Saturday night, those struggles may have come to an end in Utah's 88-87 road victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Hayward finished the night with 18 points, including a free throw in the contest's final seconds to seal the win for the Jazz. He also tallied six rebounds, four assists and two steals in what was undoubtedly his best outing so far this season. 

For Hayward, it was the direct result of a targeted effort to rediscover his scoring touch. “I think I was due,” Hayward told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I’m going to keep shooting. I’m shooting with confidence. I put in the work, so I know I’ve shot so many of those shots, whenever the next one’s up I’ll knock it down.”

Coming in to the contest, the 6'9" guard-forward from Butler was connecting on only 40.8 percent of his field goal attempts and a combined 4-of-18 from three-point range. Versus the Warriors, Hayward was successful twice in three tries from deep.

Hayward and the Jazz will look to continue their success at home Tuesday night in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In two appearances versus the Cavs last season, Hayward scored only four points on 20 percent shooting in limited action. 

With his offensive game on the upswing, and the Jazz in the midst of a four-game win streak, Cleveland may have their hands full this time around.