Utah Jazz: Top Ten Games of 2015-16

7) February 1st vs. Chicago – Hayward’s Clutch Layup Leads to Strong OT

Utah Jazz 105 – Chicago Bulls 96 OT

In yet another back and forth chess match, the Jazz fought tooth and nail with the Jimmy Butler-led Chicago Bulls. Butler had an impressive showing, pouring in 26 points for the game, but the real star of the night was Gordon Hayward.

In the kind of game where Hayward was exactly the kind of player the Jazz needed him to be, the six-foot-eight forward put up a solid 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Though his jump shot wasn’t falling (he went just 1 of 6 from deep), Hayward showed off his aggressiveness and came up huge in key moments.

In the final 5:30 of regulation and overtime, Hayward poured in 15 points. None of which was bigger than the heavily contested layup he drained at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Jazz were honed in and ready to do work. They held the Bulls to just three points on 0 for 5 shooting while posting 12 points of their own to crank out a nine-point overtime victory.

While the nature of this game and the fact it went into overtime made it great, Hayward’s late explosion is what made it one of the best of 2015-16.

Next: No. 6