Jazz top Lakers

The overriding theme of the first NBA preseason game in Hawaii in eight years was either great defense or terrible offense, depending on one’s point of view.

In either case, the Utah Jazz pushed past the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half for a 90-71 win in front of a sold-out crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday. It was the first 2015-16 exhibition game for both teams.

Utah shot just 37 percent but got four players to score in double figures, led by forward Derrick Favors’ 16. The Lakers struggled mightily to generate offense throughout, shooting 28.9 percent.

The very pro purple-and-gold crowd chanted throughout for superstar Kobe Bryant, who scored five points on 1-for-5 shooting in his first game action since his 2014-15 season ended prematurely to a shoulder injury.

"It felt like a college game and we were away," said Utah small forward Gordon Hayward, a former star at Butler who scored 11. "I mean, it was a pretty cool atmosphere. A bunch of Lakers fans from all their years coming out here. It was fun."

The teams rematch at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. That game is also a Sheriff sellout.

Bryant played the entire first quarter and the Lakers led 38-33 at halftime. But Bryant’s night was done and Utah turned up the defensive pressure in the third period, then outscored Los Angeles 33-12 in the fourth. Los Angeles was held to 24.4 percent shooting in the second half as both teams’ reserves saw heavy playing time.

"I felt pretty good, man," Bryant said when asked about his first 12 minutes of basketball since last year. "It felt good to get out there. I feel strong. I don’t feel tired — at all. It’s just getting the timing down; playing the game and gaining the timing. And getting acclimated to that again. I feel great."

Some rust was understandable, and there wasn’t a lot of cohesion between the Lakers’ young nucleus of playmakers — D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle — before they gave way to their backups. Bryant fired a contested 3-pointer off the side of the backboard.

"We were a step late it seemed like in every aspect of the game," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "So I just told our guys — no way in the world we’re even close to where we want to be for when the season starts."

One reason why? Jazz center Rudy Gobert. The "Stifle Tower" from France was third in NBA Most Improved Player voting last season, when he helped Utah surge late for a 38-44 record. With him anchoring the middle, the Jazz think they can return to the playoffs this year after missing out the last three.

He showed his value in the third quarter as he bothered the Lakers’ big men with his 7-foot-1 length at one end, and threw down two thunder dunks at the other. He had 10 points, eight rebounds and a block.

"Everybody was competing," Gobert said. "We were getting on the balls, and then we got a lot of easy points on the fast break because of our defense. That is the way we want to play."

Meanwhile, backup point guard Raul Neto harassed Lakers guards Jabari Brown and Louis Williams the full length of the court. He came up with two of his four steals early in the fourth with his hustle, keying a game-changing 9-0 run and getting the Jazz bench on its feet.

"We played a lot of defense. Played hard," said the Brazilian Neto, who also had a game-high six assists. "And I think that’s the way you gotta play all season."

Second-year Jazz coach Quin Snyder applauded his team’s hard-nosed effort. He hopes for a better outing on 3-pointers (2-for-15) on Tuesday, but was pleased with the overall unselfishness.

"It’s good to see, that’s who we are," Snyder said. "I think we know who we are."