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A 21-point third quarter and 32-point night from Gordon Hayward powered the Utah Jazz past the Denver Nuggets 105-98 in Salt Lake City as the Nuggets fell to 7-13 on the season.
Denver, who have now dropped five of their last six, looked to be packing things in after Hayward’s career quarter put Utah up 82-63 after three, but a 23-5 run by the Nuggets made things interesting late in the fourth.
However, the 19-point lead Utah built in the second half ultimately proved to be too much for Denver to overcome.
The first half of tonight’s game from Salt Lake City was competitive. Nine straight points from Wilson Chandler to close the first and start the second quarter laid the foundation for a 12-6 Nuggets run, which kept things interesting in the first two periods. A 9-2 Utah run closed the second quarter setting the table for what would be a game-changing third.
After getting embarrassed last night by Houston, the Nuggets played a competitive first half, especially on the defensive end. Denver got up into the Jazz, made them uncomfortable, but were out-rebounded 24-12 during those first two quarters.
This half-court affair rolled into the second half with an immediate 15-3 Utah run as the Nuggets looked to have their legs taken out from under them. Hayward was the catalyst for Utah in the third during a quarter which opened the game up for Utah.
The Jazz outscored the Nuggets 33-16 in the third alone, as Denver gradually turned their attention to the 76ers, who they play in Philadelphia Monday, or so it seemed
Denver brought things back in the fourth, going on a quick 12-0 run in the middle of the quarter to make things interesting. Jameer Nelson, who finished with 13 points on 5-8 shooting nd seven assists helped the Nuggets’ cause, but it was too little too late for the struggling Nuggets.
Elsewhere for Denver, Chandler again led the Nuggets offensively. The Sixth-Man of the Year candidate scored 20 points on 41 minutes. Besides Chandler, Will Barton, in his second game back from an ankle injry looked himself, scoring 20 points as well, on 8-15 shooting.
For Utah, Rodney Hood scored 15 points on just 4-14 shooting while Trey Lyle totaled 12 points off the bench.
Utah improved to 12-9 on the season.
Footnotes
Nikola Jokic (left wrist sprain) is expected to miss at least the next three games.
The Nuggets hope to get Gary Harris (right foot) back during this road trip but want him to practice before inserting him back into the lineup, according to the Denver Posts’ Christopher Dempsey. Practices will be hard to come by during this six-game roadie, however, as the Nuggets play those six games in just the next ten nights.
WHERE/WHEN
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah | December 3, 2016
NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME
Chandler, once again, was the catalyst for Denver. 20 points on 7-14 shooting in a team-high 41 minutes paced the Nuggets tonight.
BY THE NUMBERS
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Mudiay’s corner three
E for threeeeeeee!#Nuggets https://t.co/TCecVxPtRP
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 4, 2016
Gallinari’s and-1 through Gobert
Got 'em!#HereToCreate #Nuggets https://t.co/3BWHiqRxvj
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 4, 2016
Nurkic from range
Shot clock running down?
No problem for Nurk! #Nuggets https://t.co/v8ksupN086
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 4, 2016
Nelson tries to bring Denver back
From deep.#Nuggets https://t.co/OuOhN4djED
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 4, 2016
Nelson turns back the clocks
Spin cycle.
High off the glass!#Nuggets https://t.co/OjcY6fAuWS— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 4, 2016
WHAT’S NEXT
Denver’s next stop on their six-game road trip is across the country in Philadelphia. They’ll take on Joel Embiid and the 76ers Monday before playing in Brooklyn Wednesday.
0 Comments (1 conversation)
It is troubling that the Spread Offense is the only offensive action that the Nuggets players look comfortable with overall. Jokic is injured and Nurkic plays only 13 min. Faried has displayed success playing small ball center, but isn’t that what the front office wanted to move away from in the Melvin Hunt days? I like the recent trend of playing a 3 guard lineup because we should being playing our best 2-way players for the most minutes each game. Gallinari said he needs to play better defense. But you know what?…he is not 23 or 24 anymore and he struggles defensively now. Chandler is Denver’s best two way player, Barton and Harris is next, it looks like Jokic should be starting again once he returns, let Faried play half his minutes at small ball center, hold Mudiay accountable if he is not playing efficiently and play Murray more because having double playmakers out there will create easier offense for Denver. How many more games does Denver have to lose before Murray gets to play some minutes at point guard?-playing a 3 guard lineup will help.
You raise some good points. Denver is best when playing with Jokic, Gallinari, Chandler, and then pick two guards from Mudiay/Nelson/Barton/Murray – in a “spread” look like you said (5-out or 4-out with Jokic on the block). Don’t think it’s anything more than that style takes advantage of those player’s skill-sets the most.
I think we’ll see more Murray at point guard as long as Mudiay continues to struggle and hope we get more Mudiay and Murray together in the backcourt as well before Gary Harris gets back – want to see more data on how those two play with each other. Once Harris is back though, wouldn’t be shocked to see even small lineups combinations with Mudiay/Nelson, Murray and Harris sharing the court together.