Bogdanovic, Gay Carry Shorthanded Jazz Past Nuggets
Jan 5, 2022, 10:31 PM | Updated: 10:42 pm
Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 6, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz won their 10th straight road win with a shorthanded 115-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Jazz were without Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside, and Joe Ingles, but got big performances from Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gay in the win.
Bogdanovic scored a season-high 36 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, while Gay added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz.
First Quarter
Udoka Azubuike got the start in place of both Gobert and Whiteside and caught an alley-oop early, but was to be expected with so little practice time before returning to the floor, his conditioning was below where it needs to be to play starters minutes.
After running the floor several times, the big center struggled to finish a dunk on top of the rim and had to sit after just four and a half minutes.
Rudy Gay and the @utahjazz were feelin' it from the three-point line in the first half.#TakeNote https://t.co/b8kYl75dSx
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2022
The Jazz hit five first-quarter threes but gave up six rebounds and five assists to Nikola Jokic as they found themselves tied after one.
Heading into the second quarter, the Jazz and Nuggets were tied at 26.
Second Quarter
Donovan Mitchell was unable to find a rhythm in the first half and managed just seven points on 3-8 shooting.
Without Gobert and Whiteside, the Jazz defense understandably struggled, allowing Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon to combine to shoot 10-11 from the floor for 23 points.
Bogey with the 💪#TakeNote https://t.co/A4W5rEcK1g
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2022
However, the Jazz frontcourt of Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gay combined for 33 first half points.
At the break, the Jazz led the Nuggets 57-56.
Third Quarter
After a hot-shooting first half, the Jazz took the mid-range to abuse the Nuggets defense in the third quarter.
Mitchell, who had been quiet in the opening quarters, found the touch on his floater and scored eight points in the soft spot between the Nuggets perimeter defenders and rim protection.
Don with his Mike impression 🎈 pic.twitter.com/Z8PUSup6sr
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 6, 2022
Bogdanovic meanwhile upped his scoring total to 30 by scoring 11 points in the quarter.
After three, the Jazz led the Nuggets 88-78.
Fourth Quarter
Gay had one of his most impressive performances in a Jazz uniform filling in for Gobert and Whiteside scoring 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots.
The Jazz were far from perfect, allowing Jokic to finish with a monster 26 points, 21 rebound, 11 assist triple-double, but limited him to four points in the fourth quarter.
A big night for Bogey.#TakeNote https://t.co/HIwk1owPf6
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2022
Bogdanovic meanwhile had a season-high 35 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the Jazz 10th straight road win.
The Jazz moved to 14-3 away from home with a 115-109 victory over the Nuggets.
