Jazz Prevail Over Nuggets In Regular Season Home Finale
Apr 9, 2019, 10:20 PM | Updated: 10:24 pm
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz wrapped up their regular season home slate with a 118-108 win over the Denver Nuggets.
The victory was Utah’s 29th of the season at Vivint Smart Home Arena and improved Utah’s overall record to 50-31.
The Nuggets sat several key players including Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap against the Trail Blazers on Sunday in what many considered to be a strategic play to affect the Western Conference playoff seedings. Against the Jazz on Tuesday, Denver didn’t rest any of its stars and they all played well.
Final home game of the regular season—Thank you, Jazz fans!#TakeNote | #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/uL2ezJHjeG
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 10, 2019
The Jazz’s stars, led by Donovan Mitchell, just played a little better.
Mitchell Starts Game Hot
The first quarter belonged almost entirely to Mitchell. The second-year superstar scored 17 points in the opening quarter on 6-for-8 shooting. He nearly outscored the Nuggets himself as Denver put up 21 points in the first 12 minutes. The Jazz held a six point lead at the end of the first.
Mitchell continued his strong play in the second, scoring 10 points in the quarter to arrive at 27 points in the first half. However, a pair of Nuggets also heated up in the second. Gary Harris and Jamal Murray each had 9 points in the period to help Denver cut Utah’s lead to just one at halftime. At the break, the Jazz led 60-59.
💙 50 WINS 💙#TakeNote | #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/vq6wXFyRup
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 10, 2019
Another terrific quarter played by Mitchell in the third helped Utah create a little breathing room going into the fourth. In the penultimate period, Mitchell put up 13 points to arrive at 40 points for the game with 12 minutes left to be played.
Still, the Nuggets remained close until their All-Star center Nikola Jokic fouled out with about eight minutes to go in the game. At that point, the Jazz were up 97-92. With Jokic out of the game, the Jazz went on a 21-16 advantage to finish the game and secure the win.
Key Stats
Mitchell finished with 46 points to tie a career-high.
Gobert turned in his 200th double-double in a Jazz uniform with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
🗣 D 🗣 P 🗣 O 🗣 Y#RudyDPOY | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/z08Dkufc4Y
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 10, 2019
Joe Ingles quietly had a double-double himself with 10 points and 13 assists.
Malik Beasley had 25 points off the bench to lead the Nuggets.
Next Up
The Jazz will have little turnaround before their next game. They’ll face the LA Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
The Jazz currently sit in the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. With one game to go, it seems likely that their first round opponent will be the Portland Trail Blazers or Houston Rockets.
