SALT LAKE CITY — The Denver Nuggets had a rough loss recently, but they bounced back strong with a 122-103 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Nuggets, sitting in a tough spot in the Western Conference, needed this win badly to stay on track.
Jamal Murray had a solid game, finishing with 20 points, eight assists, and four steals. Nikola Jokic came back strong after a tough game last time, scoring 30 points, including 19 in the first quarter alone. The Nuggets really needed that boost after falling behind by 12 early in the game to a Jazz team that was shooting well from three.
Murray and Michael Porter Jr. didn’t get off to the best starts, but Russell Westbrook stepped up with some great play off the bench. His passes to Jokic were spot-on, leading to easy scores. One of his passes was so good that it set Jokic up for a layup instead of a more difficult shot.
Murray started slow but picked it up, scoring his first points midway through the second quarter. He helped Denver build a strong lead by halftime. After the break, they were up by 26 points.
Porter ended with 19 points, and Christian Braun added 18 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-8.
On defense, the Nuggets fixed some problems that had been bothering them recently. They dominated the paint, outscoring the Jazz 64-38, and they were great in transition, outscoring Utah 33-9. The Jazz struggled in the second and third quarters, scoring just 18 and 23 points, respectively.
The Nuggets are also hoping for a boost when Aaron Gordon returns from his calf injury. His presence will help both defense and offense. He’s traveling with the team but hasn’t set a timeline for his return yet.
Vlatko Cancar, another key player, is still recovering from a knee injury. He missed last season after tearing his ACL and is now dealing with a sprained knee. Cancar is deciding whether surgery is the best option, and the team is supporting him as he figures out the next step in his recovery.
It’s been a tough road for Cancar, and the Nuggets are backing him no matter what decision he makes.