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Los Angeles • Last week — after Utah's loss to the Indiana Pacers — Jazz coach Quin Snyder made a rotation change, giving Raul Neto backup point guard minutes over Dante Exum.
Neto since has made it difficult for Snyder to keep him off the floor.
The second-year pro out of Brazil has played his best basketball of the season in his last two games. In Wednesday's win over the New York Knicks, Neto scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including two from 3-point range. In Saturday's 108-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Neto scored six points, handed out four assists and grabbed three rebounds.
"I'm just trying to go out there and help the team win," Neto said. "I know that I've got to run the offense, play defense and try to make open shots. I've got to play with a lot of energy. That's the main thing, just trying to bring energy."
The backup point guard spot has been a revolving door for the Jazz this season. Shelvin Mack received the bulk of the minutes early on. Exum was the man immediately following the All-Star break. Neto's gotten the call in the last two games.
With the spot being a source of uneven play for most of the year, Neto's been solid. He was a team-high plus-16 in the plus/minus category during Saturday's loss to the Clippers. He's gotten the Jazz into their offensive sets, and he's making open shots.
"It's tough, because I haven't known this year when I'm going to get my number called," Neto said. "But the key for me has been to stay ready mentally. I've had to be ready to play at all times."
Hayward hurting
Jazz star small forward Gordon Hayward missed Saturday's fourth quarter with what the team called a left quad contusion. Hayward received X-rays but they came up negative.
Afterward, Snyder said Hayward wasn't seriously hurt.
"I think he's going to be fine," Snyder said. "I think everything's good. I think he just has a bruised muscle."
Hood gets heated
Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood picked up his first technical foul of the calendar year arguing what he thought should've been a foul call.
"It was just a heated moment," Hood said. "I thought it was a foul, but I still can't be losing my composure like that."
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