LOS ANGELES—Rookie Gordon Hayward hit the game-winning free throw with six seconds left and scored a career-high 22 points as the Utah Jazz edged the Los Angeles Lakers 86-85 Tuesday.
Paul Millsap scored 22 points for the Jazz, who halted an eight-game losing streak with the victory at Staples Center arena.
The Jazz had a five-point lead before Kobe Bryant helped Los Angeles storm back with two three-point shots late in the game.
Bryant finished with 20 points and hit a tying three-pointer with 16 seconds left. Bryant then tried to beat the buzzer with a drive to the basket but fumbled the ball away.
With their second consecutive defeat following a 17-1 stretch, the Lakers may have lost the chance to catch the Spurs at the top of the National Basketball Association’s Western Conference standings.
The Spurs have a 3 1/2-game lead with five games remaining for the Lakers.