Jazz At Nuggets: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz travel to face the Denver Nuggets in hopes of extending their 11 game win streak.

The Jazz already beat Denver on the road in this streak 109-105 two Sunday’s ago.

The Nuggets won five straight games after losing to the Jazz, but dropped their last meeting with the San Antonio Spurs 119-109 to end the streak.

Follow this page throughout the day for pregame quotes, starting lineups, and in-game thoughts.

The @utahjazz confirm that Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors will play.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 31, 2021

Pregame Quotes

Quin Snyder discussed the Jazz priorities when facing Denver, having eeked out a victory over the Nuggets in the team’s last road game.

“The biggest thing last game was the offensive glass,” Snyder said. They really crushed the glass and that was it was in some respects an achievement to win with so many less possessions. So, I think not giving them easy things, without getting too in-depth into the game plan.”

The Jazz attempted 24 fewer field-goal attempts as a result of the Nuggets 23-7 offensive rebounding advantage, though the team did attempt 28 free-throws to the Nuggets 15.

Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors will return to the lineup for the Jazz after both players missed the team’s two-game series with the Dallas Mavericks this past week.

Starting Lineups

Jamal Murray was questionable for the game today, but has been cleared to play.

PG: Mike Conley vs. Jamal Murray

SG: Donovan Mitchell vs. Gary Harris

SF: Bojan Bogdanovic vs. Will Barton

PF: Royce O’Neale vs. Paul Millsap

C: Rudy Gobert vs. Nikola Jokic

First Quarter

• Something the Jazz haven’t seen a lot of so far during this stretch is an unusually hot shooting team. Some of that is defense, but also some luck. Denver looks to be breaking that streak.

Quick timeout from the @Utahjazz and the @nuggets start 4-4 from the three-point line.

Jazz are 3-4 from deep, but trail 14-9 with 8:36 left in the first quarter. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• Jokic is up to 11 points on 5-6 shooting as the Jazz are trying a variety of different defensive strategies against him. The Jazz have thrown Bogdanovic, O’Neale, and Favors at him now and nothing has worked.
• Denver is just absurdly hot. 16-20 from the floor, 8-8 from three, Nikola Jokic has 22 points on 9-11 shooting. Not much you can do about that.

At the end of the first quarter the @utahjazz trail the @nuggets 43-29.

Nearly a perfect quarter from Denver who shoots 16-20 from the floor and 8-8 from three. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/AgY4dP397o

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• You can read about Jokic’s dominance in fuller detail here.

Nikola Jokic and the @nuggets have the @utahjazz and their 11-game winning streak up against the ropes after making 15 threes in the first half.#TakeNote https://t.co/7ted8lz5Nj

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Second Quarter

• Jazz come out looking a little tentative on offense, unwilling to shoot threes. Ingles and Niang both passed up on threes early in the quarter.
• Nuggets shooting 70/90/80. That’s 90% from the three-point line through the first 16 minutes. 10-11 from deep.

The @utahjazz give up 79 first half points to the @nuggets.

Nuggets are shooting 15-17 from the three-point line, and lead the Jazz by 26, 79-53.

Nikola Jokic has 33 points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/YtFyEuMnNf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Third Quarter

• The Jazz have trimmed the Nuggets 27 point lead to just 14 on a Donovan Mitchell three. 9-76 with 3:49 left in the third quarter. Important few minutes here for the Jazz.
• Mitchell seems to be finding a small rhythm which is good, even if the Jazz don’t win this game. They don’t want to have a wait a few games for him to find his footing and disrupt the rest of the offense in the process.

The @utahjazz have trimmed the 27 point lead to just 14 on three point plays from Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors.

93-79 with 3:25 left in the third quarter.

Important few minutes here for the Jazz. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• The Jazz keep chipping away and shink the Nuggets lead to as small as eight. Rudy Gobert’s play on the glass has changed this game late in the third quarter.

At the end of three quarters the @utahjazz trail the @Nuggets 103-91.

Bojan Bogdanovic up to 23 points for the game. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RcKzzjYmvP

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• Read about the team’s third quarter run here.

The @utahjazz showed that they weren't going to throw in the towel yet after outscoring the @nuggets 37-24 in the third quarter.#TakeNote https://t.co/zUOh0SIixE

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Fourth Quarter

• The Nuggets come out and quickly rebuild the lead to 19 which will probably end the Jazz night with 9:22 left in the fourth quarter.
• Difficult to play at that high of a level and expect Denver to drop off completely after a brilliant first half.
• With 6:27 left in the fourth quarter, the Jazz trail the Nuggets 117-100. Jazz trimmed the deficit to as little as 8, but haven’t been able to keep up the magic.

With 6:27 left in the fourth quarter, the @Utahjazz trail the @Nuggets 117-100.

Jazz trimmed the deficit to as little as 8, but haven't been able to keep up the magic. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/URLr7eFG2e

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• Bogdanovic is up to 29 points, his second best outing of the season before subbing out.
• Good sign for the Jazz to get him back.

With 3:34 left in the game, the @utahjazz trail the @nuggets 126-105.

Nikola Jokic has 45 in what's been the best individual performance against the Jazz this season.

Win streak will end at 11. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/cyCDkFnXzT

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

• The streak is over The @utahjazz fall to the @nuggets 128-117.
• Bogdanovic has 29 to lead the Jazz. Jokic matches a career-high with 47. Back at it Tuesday against the Pistons in Utah.

The streak is over

The @utahjazz fall to the @nuggets 128-117.

Bogdanovic has 29 to lead the Jazz. Jokic matches a career high with 47.

Back at it Tuesday against the Pistons in Utah. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/ZgjQQu5c9l

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021