Rockets at Jazz final score: Utah holds off Houston 109-103

Gordon Hayward had a team-high 29 points, five rebounds and three assists while rookie Trey Burke and reserve guard Alec Burks each added 21 points as the Utah Jazz withstood a 37-points, eight-assist performance from James Harden to defeat the Houston Rockets 109-103.

The Jazz built a 13-point lead by the end of the first quarter, but the Rockets quickly battled back, cutting it to three at the half. After the Jazz lead grew back to nine in the third quarter, the Rockets began to rally, eventually tying the game on a Harden layup in the fourth quarter.

However, every time the Rockets rallied, the Jazz answered. After the Harden layup, Burks immediately hit a three-pointer. A few plays later when Harden hit a three of his own to cut the lead to one, Burke answered with a three. At the three-minute mark, Aaron Brooks put a three-pointer in to the cut the lead to 97-96, but Burke hit a layup on the next possession.

Dwight Howard wasn’t much of a factor, scoring 15 points and pulling down nine rebounds in 33 minutes. His counterpart, Derrick Favors, had 14 points and 13 rebounds  in 35 minutes for the Jazz.

The Jazz are now just 4-15 on the season while the Rockets fall to 13-6.