The hosts came back from a 19-8 half-time deficit to extend their seven-year winning sequence against Scarlets in Swansea.
14 points from the boot of Scarlets back Ioan Lloyd had put the Scarlets in the ascendancy at the break with wing Ellis Mee also crossing for the west Wallians.
But Ospreys, inspired by captain and player-of-the-match Jac Morgan, scored tries from hooker Sam Parry and flanker Justin Tipuric before Hopkins’ late intervention meant they are now unbeaten in six games against their bitter rivals.
“It felt like it was a good game of rugby and the neutral would have enjoyed it,” said Jones post-match.
“I thought the Scarlets were clinical off our mistakes and punished us really well in that first half. It wasn’t through a lack of effort from our boys but from good execution from them.
“We spoke at half-time, that the game is not lost and there would be moments where we would be better and would have to take
“We were far more clinical in the second half and that last play summed it up.
“I’m proud of the group, I would still have been proud even if we hadn’t won. As well as the Scarlets played, I thought we had good dominance for large parts.
“I felt like we were in the right areas and gave ourselves a chance. We probably weren’t as clinical as we needed to be.
“We knew if we could continue that quality we had enough good players on the field to put the final nail in the coffin. I would have liked it to have been before the 82nd minute though!”
Jones felt one of the decisive factors of the match was the performance and leadership of captain Jac Morgan who took the man of the match award.
Leading from the front the Ospreys skipper’s composure and discipline being key factors in the turnaround as Scarlet’s discipline wavered in the final quarter of the match.
“The team is a representative of its captain and that is Jac Morgan,” continued Jones. “So, the team plays like Jac – the effort, commitment, physicality and quality on times.
“The growth of the team now is being a bit braver and making sure we trust our skillset a bit more.
“That perhaps is the difference in our league standing. Our performances haven’t been as ruthless as we were last year if we are honest.
“To nail those skills under pressure is good because they are a young group and today, I thought the composure was class.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
