SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Derrick Favors had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots to power the Utah Jazz over the Denver Nuggets 85-81 Wednesday night, extending their season-best winning streak to four games.
Favors missed 16 games with back problems and the Jazz have been a different defensive team since his return five games ago. Utah, which also got 16 points from Gordon Hayward, has won five straight against the Nuggets.
Favors, whose jump shot was off target much of the night, made a baseline jumper with 1:28 to play and then corralled a crucial offensive rebound and was fouled with 56 seconds remaining. He made one of two free throws to give the Jazz an 82-77 lead, their largest of the game.
Danilo Gallinari, who scored 24 points, hit two free throws and Kenneth Faried made a follow shot sandwiched around a free throw by Rudy Gobert, but the Nuggets couldn't gain possession of a loose ball with 7 seconds left for a possible game-winner. The ball was first given to Denver, but the call was reversed on replay.
Hayward, who had 14 points in the second half, made two free throws to clinch it.
The Nuggets, who went 4 for 17 from the field in the final period, have lost six of nine. Faried scored 14 points, Gary Harris had 11 and Will Barton 10 for Denver.
