AP - Utah Jazz have jumped into the Western Conference top eight with a 117-114 overtime win over the Houston Rockets.
It was a win they were made to work for as they took their season record to 28-28.
The Jazz lost a double-digit lead as the Rockets came roaring back and a Jason Terry three-pointer forced the game to overtime with the scores locked at 106 with 11 seconds left in regular time.
Utah star Gordon Hayward had a chance to win it but missed a three-point shot of his own with one second on the clock.
Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors then came up big in overtime to get the Jazz home in another match where James Harden led the Rockets with 42 points but couldn't get his team over the line.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Utah coach Quin Snyder relieved his team showed the relevant grit to win ugly.
"This was not like a real pretty game by any means, but it's a game that we won," Utah coach Quin Snyder said.
"We got a group that's learning how to do that."
Hayward scored 28 points despite only taking seven shots from the field (and making six). He went 13-for-15 from the foul line and hit three of four 3-pointers. He also had seven rebounds and five assists.
Power forward Derrick Favors contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds for Utah. Favors made a key put-back bucket late in overtime, and the Rockets missed two game-tying 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
While the Jazz got it done to jump Houston on a packed ladder they also have a DeMarcus Cousins inspired Sacramento charging after them as Cousins scored more than 30 for the 53rd time in his career.
The Sacramento centre knocked down 39 points, nailed two of two three-point attempts and had 10 rebounds as the Kings beat Denver 114-110 in the mile high city.
Cousins fed by Rajon Rondo, who had 12 assists in the win, while Danilo Gallinari top-scored for the Nuggets with 17 points.
Cousins scored eight of the final 13 points for the Kings, who blew a 17-point lead in the second half before rallying at the finish.
Sacramento coach George Karl relieved the Kings held on against his former team.'
"I thought we panicked a little bit," said Karl.
"We got good shots down the stretch, missed a dunk, turnovers hurt us a little bit, but it's a good win."
