1) February 9th at Dallas Mavericks – Hayward’s Comeback Game Winner
Utah Jazz 121 – Dallas Mavericks 119 OT
This had to be the peak feel-good time for Jazz fans. After an up and down start to the season, the Jazz came into this game having won six straight and were pushing their way up the standings. Playing against a staunch Western Conference opponent with whom they were vying for a playoff spot made this game a critically important match-up.
Yet, in typical Jazz fashion, the young team started the game out a bit slow trailing for virtually the entirety of the first three and a half quarters by as much as 15 points. But when Hayward drained a nine-foot jump shot with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the comeback was complete and the battle had begun.
But it was Rodney Hood who led the Jazz in scoring with 29 points and who had the first of two incredible shots for the Jazz. With mere seconds left in regulation and with Chandler Parsons all over him, Hood somehow managed to sink a heart-stopping three from the corner to tie the game with 1.4 seconds left and force overtime.
The overtime was then as tightly contested as the second half of the fourth quarter had been as both teams had put in an equal nine points until the final seconds of the game. Then, with the clock ticking down, Hayward pulled off an amazing step back fade away jumper to win the game at the buzzer.
The victory was absolutely stunning. Both the shot by Hood to force overtime and Hayward’s overtime winner had taken everyone by surprise. The young Jazz were able to stop the battle-hardened Mavericks who had everything to play for. After the game, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle praised the Jazz saying, “That’s a team that’s on the rise.” It was also Utah’s first win in Dallas since 2010.
Capping off a seven-game win streak to put themselves above .500 after trailing by double figures and having to count on two last second shots made this the most exhilarating game of the Utah Jazz’s 2015-16 season.
Next: Utah Jazz: Stars Announce Return of Dean Cooper as Coach
After each of these top three games of the season, I was ready to put money on the Jazz making the playoffs. Unfortunately it wasn’t in the cards and the Jazz ultimately fell short. Nevertheless, in these ten and many other games the Jazz have shown their nettle and proven that they can no longer be ignored.
Now if all goes according to plan, Utah’s 2016-17 top ten games will also include a handful of postseason contests.
All stats courtesy of ESPN.com