Jazz Face Jokic, Nuggets On TNT

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz will face their toughest test of the early season when they host the Denver Nuggets tonight on TNT.

The Jazz are 2-0 to open the season after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in their home opener, before taking down the Kings on Friday in Sacramento.

The Nuggets meanwhile are coming off their first loss of the season after falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday in Denver.

Jazz Look For Better Shooting Vs. Nuggets

Though it’s early in the season, the Jazz are one of just two teams in the Western Conference who have yet to suffer a loss. Along with the Golden State Warriors, the Jazz have opened their season blemish-free in the win column.

However, not everything on the floor has gone according to plan.

After a record-breaking season shooting the ball last year, the Jazz have struggled to find a rhythm through two games. The Jazz rank 23rd in the NBA in field goal percentage at 42.5 percent and 17th in the NBA from the three-point line at 33 percent.

Quin Snyder on Donovan Mitchell who has faced maybe the toughest 1-2 defensive matchup in the NBA to open the season in Lu Dort & Davion Mitchell.

"I think he's played outstanding offensively."

Mitchell is averaging a team-high 21 points but is shooting just 35% from the floor.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 25, 2021

“Usually there is some correlation between making them and them being open,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said of the team’s slow shooting start. “For us, it’s the type of shots that we’re getting — I thought we passed up a lot of shots early in the Sacramento game and that I think is part of us finding our identity again.”

Last year the Jazz connected on 46 percent of their shots from the field including 38.0 percent of the three-point attempts, fourth-best in the NBA.

Through four games, Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Eric Paschall, and Royce O’Neale are all shooting 37 percent or worse from the field.

Nuggets Coming Off First Loss

The Nuggets travel to Utah on short rest after suffering their first loss of the season on Monday.

Denver managed just 87 points in the double-digit loss to the surprising Cavaliers who have opened the season 2-2.

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic scored 24 points on 9-15 shooting, but no other Nuggets player scored more than 12 points in the loss.

How 'bout that defense? 👀#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/xHv9c7P0k2

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 26, 2021

As a team, Denver has struggled to control the ball through three games this season.  On Monday the Nuggets had 21 turnovers, including six by Jokic as the MVP’s team ranks dead-last in giveaways at 20.7 per contest.

On Friday, the Jazz beat the Kings thank in part to 23 points scored off 15 Sacramento giveaways.

High Praise For Jokic

Snyder revealed during the Jazz practice on Monday that the Nuggets Jokic was one of his favorite players in the NBA, even if he doesn’t love having to gameplan for him.

“I don’t know if you’re allowed to have a favorite player as a coach and there’s probably a few of them but he’s one of the guys that I really enjoy watching,” Snyder admitted. “I don’t enjoy scouting him as much as I just do watching him.”

Quin Snyder said Nikola Jokic is one of his favorite players in the NBA.

Said he was one of his least favorite to scout against, but obviously loves his game.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 25, 2021

Last season Jokic punished the Jazz in the team’s three meetings. The MVP averaged 35.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists, though the Nuggets won just one of the three matchups.

Jazz Face Nuggets Broadcast On TNT

The Jazz and Nuggets will tip-off at 8 pm MT, the game can be heard on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone Sports Network, and will be televised on TNT.