Utah Jazz: Sundiata Gaines hits game-winner at buzzer to beat Cavs

SALT LAKE CITY — LeBron James came into the night averaging 30.2 points in 13 games against Utah — his highest personal average versus all opposing teams, and the second-highest individual career best against the Jazz.

First all-time? That would be a certain retired superstar named Michael Jordan, who merely averaged 32.7 points for Chicago and Washington in 26 regular-season games against the Jazz.

Move over, Mike, at least for one night.

But not to make way for Cleveland Cavaliers star James, who did score a game-high 36 points, including 18 of his club's 20 points at one point in the fourth quarter.

Rather, it's rookie Sundiata Gaines who claimed the spotlight Thursday.

Unlikely Gaines hit the game-winner at the buzzer, allowing the Jazz to overcome second-half injuries sustained by both starting point guard Deron Williams and starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko, and beat the Cavaliers 97-96 in a late-starting, TNT-televised game at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena.

With Utah down by two, C.J. Miles in-bounded to a heavily guarded Kyle Korver, who passed to Ronnie Price, who found Gaines on the right side for a 3-pointer over Anthony Parker that fell through as the rookie dropped to the floor.

"I had a feeling the ball was gonna come to me," said Gaines, who is playing on a 10-day contract. "The crazy thing about it is I was sitting on the bench and I just dreamed about it happening. I said I knew Ronnie (Price) was gonna have the ball and I was gonna catch it and I was gonna hit the winner.

"Just for it to happen the same way I envisioned it — I mean, that's even more special for me."

The 22-17 Jazz won their third straight and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Eastern Conference-leading Cavs despite Williams re-spraining his right (shooting) wrist, an injury that caused him to miss a pair of games against Memphis last week, and Kirilenko hyperextending his right knee.

"I haven't been this excited in a long time," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who had knee replacement surgery last year. "I was so excited I found myself trying to jump."

Kirilenko, Miles and rookie Wesley Matthews all took turns against James, who finished 12-of-20 from the field.