This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As they waited for the ball to drop, the Utah Jazz were busy trying to simply not drop the ball themselves.
The Phoenix Suns are tied for last place in the Western Conference, but the Jazz found themselves in a battle as the fourth quarter counted down Saturday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
And it wasn't until Suns guard Devin Booker's 3-point shot that would have tied the game with 5.9 seconds to play had fallen short that the Jazz were able to ice a 91-86 win with free throws and start to celebrate on New Year's Eve.
"It's great to end the year like that," said Utah center Rudy Gobert, who scored 18 points to go with 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder had predicted a fight.
"I think the back end of a homestand or a road trip is always a little different from a psychological standpoint," the coach had said before tipoff. "Particularly given the fact that this home stand culminates on New Year's Eve and there is some finality to it in many ways."
Sitting at his locker following an 18-point, nine-rebound effort, Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said he had yet to form a resolution for 2017.
"I haven't thought about it yet," he said.
Here's one for the team: Get healthy and stay healthy.
Jazzmen have combined to miss a whopping 95 games due to injury so far this season, among the most in the NBA.
And even starting point guard George Hill's return to the court suffered a setback Saturday night, when the point guard took an elbow from Phoenix big man Alex Len at the end of the first half. Hill needed 18 stitches to fix up his busted lip and had to sit out the rest of the game while undergoing the NBA's concussion protocol.
"It's obviously frustrating, I think, for everybody," Hayward said. "For him, for sure. But I think for us too. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery."
With Hill out for the game's final three quarters, backup point guard Raul Neto ended his year on a high note, scoring eight points in 14 minutes off the bench.
Neto and the Jazz also found a way to slow the Suns' top option as the game went on. Booker, who wouldn't be able to legally sip champagne until next New Year's Eve, cooked the Jazz in the first quarter. The 20-year-old Suns guard went off for 18 points, connecting on 8-of-10 from the field. But the Jazz managed to limit the guard to two points on 1-of-9 shooting the rest of the way.
So after finishing 2016 with a victory, the 21-13 Utah Jazz could pause for a moment to take stock of their accomplishments and look ahead to a new year.
Gobert's resolution for 2017?
"Make the playoff," he said. "That would be a good one."
Rodney Hood's?
"Keep winning games. Keep winning games," the Jazz guard said after finishing with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting. "That's pretty much the only individual goal and team goal I have right now."
At the moment, the Jazz sit in fourth place in the Western Conference as they prepare to kick off the new year with a five-game road trip.
"I'm definitely proud of us as a team," Hayward said. "… I think we feel like we've let more than a couple go and still I think we're playing good basketball and have put ourselves in a position to be in the playoff race. There's still a lot of work to do, but we've put ourselves in a good position."
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
Storylines
R Rudy Gobert recorded his 23rd double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Jazz have beaten the Suns in six straight games, dating to 2015.