Will Hardy moves Ace Bailey into the Jazz starting five, and Jaxson Hayes answers with 17 off the bench

Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy changed his starting lineup after one game, moving rookie Ace Bailey into the first five and sending Jaxson Hayes to the bench. The bigger story of Friday’s 120-119 home-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans was how Hayes answered: 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting and a team-best plus-9 in 26 minutes, finishing the game on the floor.

The switch puts Jaren Jackson Jr. at center with the starters, alongside Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Bailey and Lauri Markkanen, and it leaves Utah with a real choice to make before Sunday’s visit from the Lakers.

Why Hardy made the change

The opening night in Memphis forced the issue. Hayes started that game in place of the injured Jusuf Nurkic, whom the Jazz list as out with a second plantar plate tear in his right foot. Hayes blocked six shots in 26 minutes, but Utah lost 123-103 and was outscored by 27 points with him on the floor. Bailey, coming off the bench that night, scored 12 with three blocks.

Hardy explained afterward that Hayes at the five gives the Jazz a different set of matchups on offense, and that keeping him with the second unit also pairs him with Isaiah Collier, his pick-and-roll partner. Collier had 10 points and seven assists in 18 minutes against New Orleans. Hardy also pushed back on the attention the decision drew. “Everybody gets hung up on who starts,” he said, adding that Hayes handled the rotation change well.

What the first look showed

The new starting group did not have an easy night. Bailey went 2-of-8 from the field and 1-of-6 from three for six points, though he grabbed seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Jackson led everyone with 24 points and 10 rebounds, George had 19 points and 10 assists, and Utah built a 15-point lead before New Orleans won the third quarter 38-24.

Hardy turned back to size to close it. With Zion Williamson attacking the rim on the way to 23 points, Hardy said keeping him out of the paint and rebounding were the deciding factors, and Hayes was the answer: the lobs, the rolls and the weak-side defensive plays that Hardy singled out after the game. Utah won the rebounding battle 42-38 and grabbed 14 offensive boards.

Hardy noted that Hayes began training camp expecting a bench role before the Nurkic injury moved him up. Two games in, the Jazz have seen him do both jobs.

What comes next

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Delta Center on Sunday, October 25, at 5:00 p.m. ET, bringing Walker Kessler back to Utah for the first time since he left. Against a center who blocked six shots against the Clippers on Friday, whether Hardy keeps Bailey in the first five or goes back to Hayes is the lineup question to watch. Follow it in the Lakers vs. Jazz Game Center.