Jazz shootaround: Snyder wants his team to start games like it does second halves

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Los Angeles • For the Jazz, Saturday night's win over the Denver Nuggets followed a script that has become familiar this season: start slow, then turn it on after halftime.

With the game tied in the opening minutes of the third quarter, Gordon Hayward caught fire, outscoring Denver 21-16 all by himself in the period — a turn of events made possible by a smothering defensive performance.

"We played with some bounce," Hayward said of his team's second-half performance. "We played with some swagger. We guarded. We were able to get some easy buckets in transition and we got the win."

The Jazz have been one of the best second-half teams in the NBA this season. In the first halves of games this year, the Jazz have outscored opponents by 3.3 points per 100 possessions. Coming out of the locker room, however, they have outscored opponents by 10.1 points per 100 second-half possessions. Only the Warriors and Raptors have been better after halftime.

The Jazz won't complain if they find another big second-half performance tonight to beat the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center (tipoff is scheduled for just after 8:30 p.m. MT). But Jazz coach Quin Snyder wouldn't mind a hot start either.

"I'd like us to start games better," Snyder said. "… I know our defensive rating last year fell off a cliff late and that's something we've really been focused on. I don't think we've always started the game with a level of determination and focus and physicality — aggressiveness, is probably the best word for it. So maybe we're finding that a little more in the second half. But hopefully we can continue to back that up and play better in the first half, too."

Injury report

Point guard George Hill will miss his third straight game with a sprained big toe. Hill did not travel with the team to Los Angeles. Forward Derrick Favors (left knee bone contusion) and guard Alec Burks (left ankle rehab) also remain sidelined.