Video: Gordon Hayward Hits Fadeaway Jumper To Beat Cavaliers As Time Expires

What a night for Gordon Hayward. After catching LeBron James on a chase-down block and dunking on the other end, the Utah Jazz star capped a banner performance by hitting a game-winning jumper as time expired to give his team a 102-100 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js

That is what a max-level player looks like.

Hayward finished the game with 21 points (7-12 FGs), four rebounds, and seven assists, giving James fits on both ends from the opening tip. Utah led by 16 at one point in the third quarter, but LeBron and Kyrie Irving led a slow-burning late-game comeback.

The King hit a ridiculous corner three-pointer while nearly falling out of bounds after a loose-ball situation to give Cleveland a puncher’s chance with 13 seconds remaining. After Alec Burks hit another pair of three throws to put Utah back up by three, James took a ball-screen before halfcourt and pumped from deep, goading Derrick Favors into the air. Ever the veteran, LeBron drew contact and calmly nailed all three freebies, setting the stage for Hayward’s heroics.

Cleveland still has a lot of work to do, but this isn’t a terrible loss. The Cavs were on a road back-to-back playing against a young, talented, hungry team.

Let’s make this about Hayward and the Jazz. If it can build on early season play, Utah could even be more than a nuisance in a stacked Western Conference this season. As for long-term? The future looks very, very bright in Salt Lake City.

(GIF via @JDonsports)

What do you think?

Follow Jack on Twitter at @ArmstrongWinter.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.

Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE.

×