This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Atlanta • Rudy Gobert's biggest goal was to prevent Paul Millsap from getting to the basket for what would've been the game-winning shot.

So when Utah's center switched onto Atlanta's power forward, Gobert put his body between Millsap and the basket and did his best to contest. His sprained ankle had to survive a wicked crossover, but he played enough defense to force a 12-footer with time running out. It was an open 12-footer, but at least it wasn't a layup.

When Millsap missed what may have been his easiest shot on Sunday night, the Jazz got the rebound, and Gobert smiled and rejoiced in Utah's 97-96 win over the Hawks at Phillips Arena. It wasn't easy. It wasn't pretty. But finally, the Jazz had a victory on what had been a nightmarish four game trip through the Eastern Conference.

"This was very important to us," Gobert said. "We were so close to winning the first two games of the road trip, we lost each game by a couple of possessions. But we were able to win the game tonight. We want to make the playoffs, and if we are going to do that, we have to put some wins together."

A victory over Atlanta became increasingly vital the closer the Jazz came to achieving it. In the first two games of the trip, Utah played the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat to the final moments, before falling by a total of five points. So when the Jazz became embroiled in yet another close game, losing that close game could've been mentally crushing.

But unlike in the games against Cleveland and Miami, Utah made the plays needed down the stretch. The Jazz found a way to make stops on the defensive end. They saw Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks make big shot after big shot on the offensive end, and they finally received a little luck with Millsap missing at the buzzer.

"I thought we were a bit fortunate tonight," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "We got a little luck at the end when Paul missed that shot. The Hawks are a terrific team. I think coach [Mike] Budenholzer is one of the best coaches in the league. This was a tremendous opportunity for our guys to test themselves against a championship level team, and they played well."

No doubt, the Jazz manufactured their own luck. They were blown out on Friday night against the Orlando Magic, but looked like a different team against the Hawks with Gobert and Hood back in the lineup.

Gobert anchored Utah's defense, scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked four shots and handed out three assists. And his impact on the Jazz' play went even beyond that on both ends. Hood scored 20 points and his assist to Favors for a jumper with 38 seconds remaining gave Utah a 97-93 lead and provided the Jazz with the final cushion they needed for the win.

Favors continues to play at an All-Star level, scoring 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking a pair of shots in 32 minutes. He went 11 for 20 from the field and was an anchor on both ends. Burks came off the bench and scored 18 points, while grabbing six rebounds. As is his custom, it was hard for Atlanta to stop him in transition, or keep him from the basket off the dribble.

"Obviously I think Utah played better than us for more of the game tonight," Budenholzer said. "Both teams had stretches. They were able to get some game separation and they got up seven or eight there late. We were finding ourselves behind too much, too often."

The Jazz finish the road trip with a win in the last game, and move to 5-5 on the season. Millsap — a former Jazz player — led everyone with 28 points and six rebounds, while the Hawks put all five starters in double figures.

twitter: @tjonessltrib —

Storylines

R In a game that features seven ties and eight lead changes, the Jazz wrap up an Eastern Conference trip with a win. Victory isn't secure until Paul Millsap misses a jumper at the buzzer.

• Rudy Gobert (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Rodney Hood (20 points) return after missing the Orlando game with injuries.

• The Hawks are missing All-Star point guard Jeff Teague. His replacement, Dennis Schroder, tallies 11 points and nine assists.