Nuggets secure statement win over Jazz

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets came into their matchup with the Utah Jazz looking to extend their lead for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz started strong but, being tonight was the second game of a back to back, lost steam late and the Nuggets came away with a statement win over the Jazz with a score of 103-93.

The game started out with four quick turnovers from Denver and the Jazz forcing their style of play on the Nuggets. Everyone not named Darrell Arthur and Nikola Jokic was struggling to score, especially Danilo Gallinari, who started 0-5 from the field. The Jazz did a great job of exposing the Nuggets passing by pressuring the ball-handlers, whether it was Jokic or a guard, and they were jumping passing lanes every chance they could get.

“Early on we had four of our eight turnovers at halftime in transition,” Michael Malone said. “I think playing open and free is great but discipline is also required and I think three of our first four were no-look passes and unfortunately our no-look passes went to Utah.”

The Nuggets dug in defensively behind the strong rim protection of Nurkic and kept the game close thanks to back to back threes from Arthur, who is now shooting over 50 percent from three-point distance and finished with a season-best 16 points and eight rebounds.

By the end of the second quarter, Denver began to force their style of play on the Jazz by getting out in transition and attacking Utah, who piled up an insane 12 fouls before halftime. The Nuggets slammed down on the throttle offensively and started suffocating the Jazz on defense. That combination allowed the Nuggets to fight back into the game and go into halftime with a lead of 12 by a score of 51-39 after outscoring the Jazz 33-17 in the second quarter.

“Defense is going to help us carry the day,” Malone explained. “Our offense is our offense. If our defense can continue to improve and we keep making strides in that area while maintaining our offense that we have been showing then I think we will be a pretty tough out (in the playoffs) and I think it will be a big factor going forward.”

The Denver Nuggets came out of the gate with urgency and aggression eventually leading by as much as 17 points over the Jazz. Jokic continued to fill up the stat sheet while the Nuggets defense remained highly active and intense. Gallinari began getting in on the scoring, ending with 11 points three rebounds and 2 assists. The Jazz continued to look like a team that lost a hard fought game just a night earlier and the wheels began to fall off. Thanks to 16 points in the third quarter from Derrick Favors, who led the Jazz with 18 points and five rebounds, the Jazz were able to cut into the lead but eventually went into the fourth quarter down 80-67.

“That is two of our last three games where our defense has played really well so that is encouraging to me,” Malone said. “In the Clipper game we held them under 100 and tonight we held (Utah) under 100 with very good percentages from the field and the three-point line.”

The fourth quarter started with a burst from the Jazz but the Nuggets continued applying pressure on both ends of the court and the Jazz eventually ran out of steam but not before the Jazz made it interesting. The Nuggets began turning the ball over and the lead got as slim as six points but Jameer Nelson, who finished with 17 points and seven assists, played the role of hero and helped the Nuggets stay afloat.

“Jameer made some big, big plays down the stretch. A guy that has been an all-star, finals, has been in a million games like that, and to see him go out there and calmly, cooly, collectively bring us home,” Malone explained. “He had some big shots and big plays. We got some timely stops down the stretch and it was a hell of a win for us.”

The Denver Nuggets escaped with a score of 103-93 and have now won five of their last seven games. Kenneth Faried finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Jokic finished with an insane 23 points on 9-16 shooting with 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals while Jamal Murray had five points and five assists with a beautiful fake-dunk-up-and-under layup that was Michael Jordan-esque.

Sliiiiiick move, Rookie.#Nuggets https://t.co/iGyg0h1t1w

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 25, 2017

Quote of the Night

“Nikola Jokic will not only be an All-Star but will be an All-NBA player one day and I believe that with my in my heart,” Malone said emphatically. “If this year is not his year, he is getting the credit and the reputation that he deserves…there is not a coach or a fan in the NBA that does not know Nikola Jokic. I think he has to be one of the more exciting young players in the NBA and, as I say many times, we are just so thankful and thrilled that he is a big part of our future.”

Footnotes

Emmanuel Mudiay missed his second straight game due to back pain. Jameer Nelson started in his place with Jamal Murray taking over backup point guard duties.

What’s next

The Denver Nuggets stay at home and take on the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, January 26th looking to continue their pursuit of the playoffs.