Al Jefferson scores 25 as Utah Jazz top Indiana Pacers 114-110 in overtime
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Al Jefferson scored 25 points and Paul Millsap had 21, leading the Utah Jazz to a 114-110 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Utah scored the first six points in overtime after blowing a 97-89 lead with 2:44 left in regulation. Gordon Hayward coughed up three turnovers to Indiana's George Hill in the final minute of the fourth.
Paul George scored 24 points, David West added 23 and Hill had 22 for Indiana (26-18), which lost for the third time in four road games. The Pacers outrebounded the Jazz 41-28.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hayward scored 15 points, but had the ball stolen from him three times on the final three possessions for Utah in regulation.
The Jazz held a 98-94 lead when Hill stepped in front of Hayward's attempted pass to Jefferson and took it in for layup to cut the lead to two. Hill picked Hayward's pocket again a few seconds later, leading to Paul George's tying free throws with 9.5 seconds left.
The Jazz still had a time for a potential winning shot, but never got a chance to run a play after Hill stole the ball from Hayward a third time to force overtime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Utah bounced back by making five consecutive baskets to open the overtime period. The final one, a long jumper from Jefferson, gave the Jazz a 108-102 lead with 1:51 remaining.
The Pacers pulled within three on a 3-pointer from George with 30.6 seconds left. Hayward blocked George when he tried another 3 on Indiana's next possession. Randy Foye then sank a pair of free throws with 6.4 seconds to seal the win.
After a listless second quarter, the Jazz bounced back in the third. Utah neutralized Indiana's advantage on the glass by attacking the rim and forcing the Pacers to settle for outside shots.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It paid off when the Jazz put together a 9-0 run capped by Derrick Favors' dunk off a lob pass from Earl Watson, putting Utah in front 69-59 lead late in the quarter.