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Suns will be challenged by Hayward, Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY -- No one should be surprised if Gordon Hayward ends up on an NBA all-star roster in February. Like a skilled gamer, Hayward has unlocked a new level and powered up.

Hayward has made a habit of taking over games for the Utah Jazz on offense. His latest victim? The Los Angeles Lakers. Hayward torched the Lakers for 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting in Utah's 107-102 victory on Monday night.

Such a performance is not out of the ordinary. Hayward has averaged 31.7 points per game over Utah's last three home games while shooting 52 percent from the field. Jazz coach Quin Snyder points to an expansion of Hayward's postgame as a reason behind him taking another step forward as a scorer.

"He added a comfort level in the post that, I think, is still going to improve," Snyder said following the team's 105-98 win over Denver on Saturday. "He's shooting off screens, so he's able to score multiple ways when someone takes something away."

Hayward's ability to attack a defense in so many different ways has transformed Utah (13-9) into a better offensive team this season. The Jazz have occasional stretches where they are paralyzed by long-term scoring droughts. Still, it is no longer a defining characteristic that it had been at times over the past few seasons.

With Hayward setting the tone, his teammates feel like they can get more than enough going on offense to complement their stout defense.

"He makes everything click," guard Rodney Hood said. "His aggressiveness in going to the basket, knocking down shots, passing the ball. He does a lot for our team. We feed off that."

Stopping Hayward represents the latest challenge for a beleaguered Phoenix Suns defense. Phoenix (6-14) hit a low point during a 138-109 loss to Golden State on Saturday. The Warriors shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range (14 of 21) over four quarters. It represented their highest percentage since shooting 68.8 percent at Cleveland on Jan. 29, 2013.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the way in torching the Suns from the perimeter. Curry and Thompson combined to make 11-of-14 from distance and they finished with 31 points and 26 points, respectively.

Phoenix's offense wasn't able to keep up with the explosion that it couldn't contain on defense.

"Offensively, we were stagnant," guard Devin Booker said. "We weren't moving the ball well, and that's what happens when you play good teams. They played good team defense."

The Suns will need more from both sides of the ball in Salt Lake City. They have allowed 121.7 points per game over their last three games. Phoenix will also need big games from Booker and Eric Bledsoe against a Jazz backcourt that has played without injured George Hill over the last three games. Bledsoe is averaging 19.3 points for the Suns, while Booker is scoring 19.2 points per contest.

Utah swept Phoenix a season ago, winning all four games between the two teams for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

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