Game ID: 22300922
Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets
Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 38 40 24 40 142UTA 22 22 44 33 121
DEN vs UTA ScoutingDEN vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 2/29 · back-to-backOUT Jordan missed 5 since 2/14, out tonight
DEN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 6 since 2/14, out tonight
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Jordan missed 7 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 2/29, out tonight
DEN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 8 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 3 since 2/29, out tonight
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 9 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 4 since 2/29, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 10 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 11 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 11)
NEW Murray 33 to 39 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 12 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 13 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 1 min since (11% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Potter missed 33 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/27 after 2, 10 min since (51% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 2/25 after 4, 2 min since (13% of 19)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/25 after 2, 2 min since (22% of 11)
NEW George 27 to 34 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Juzang missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 34 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 15 min (130% of 11)
OUT Preston missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/27 after 2, 10 min since (51% of 20)
NEW George 27 to 33 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 2 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 3 since 2/27, returns tonight: 20 min (108% of 19)
OUT Potter missed 35 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/27 after 2, 15 min since (76% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/25 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 11)
NEW George 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 21 to 27 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 3 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 36 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/27 after 2, 15 min since (76% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 2/25 after 4, 11 min since (61% of 19)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/25 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 11)
UTA availability going into 3/09 · 2 days' restOUT Markkanen missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 4 since 2/29, returns tonight: 24 min (105% of 23)
OUT Potter missed 37 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/27 after 2, 17 min since (88% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 3/04 after 3, 20 min since (109% of 19)
BACK Yurtseven back 3/02 after 2, 13 min since (112% of 11)
NEW Sexton 27 to 32 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/12 · 2 days' restOUT Markkanen missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 38 since 12/18, returns tonight: 13 min (111% of 12)
OUT Preston missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Kessler back 3/09 after 4, 24 min since (105% of 23)
BACK Juzang back 3/04 after 3, 16 min since (84% of 19)
BACK Yurtseven back 3/02 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Collins 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/15 · 2 days' restOUT Markkanen missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 19 min (91% of 21)
OUT Preston missed 12 since 2/12, returns tonight: 12 min (121% of 10)
BACK Kessler back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (92% of 23)
BACK Juzang back 3/04 after 3, 16 min since (84% of 19)
BACK Potter back 3/12 after 38, 13 min since (111% of 12)
BACK Yurtseven back 3/02 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/16 · back-to-backOUT Markkanen missed 5 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Lofton Jr. missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 18 min (155% of 11)
BACK Kessler back 3/09 after 4, 23 min since (99% of 23)
BACK Hendricks back 3/15 after 3, 19 min since (91% of 21)
BACK Juzang back 3/04 after 3, 18 min since (97% of 19)
BACK Potter back 3/12 after 38, 14 min since (117% of 12)
BACK Preston back 3/15 after 12, 12 min since (121% of 10)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 27 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Markkanen missed 6 since 3/04, returns tonight: 31 min (93% of 33)
OUT Clarkson missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Lofton Jr. missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Kessler back 3/09 after 4, 25 min since (107% of 23)
BACK Hendricks back 3/15 after 3, 26 min since (123% of 21)
BACK Potter back 3/12 after 38, 13 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Yurtseven back 3/16 after 2, 18 min since (155% of 11)
BACK Preston back 3/15 after 12, 13 min since (123% of 10)
NEW George 27 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 28 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 22 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Markkanen at 18 a game. Without Markkanen (2 straight), Kessler (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Utah's 120 and the line, where Utah takes 21 free throws a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 118, Utah 111.
2/29 vs MIA 103-97 — DEN notes
DEN won 103-97. DEN shot 43% (36 of 84) to MIA's 42%, 12 of 34 from three. Porter Jr. led with 30 (12 of 23, 4 of 10 from three); Jokić added 18, Caldwell-Pope 18. The hinge was Q1, 36-20: from level to 16 ahead. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/02 @ LAL 124-114 — DEN notes
DEN won 124-114. DEN shot 59% (54 of 92) to LAL's 53%, 11 of 26 from three. The glass went 47-31 for them. Jokić led with 35 (16 of 25, 1 of 5 from three); Porter Jr. added 25, Murray 24. The hinge was Q4, 35-25: from level to 10 ahead. DEN trailed 58-66 at the half and won the second half 66-48. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/05 vs PHX 107-117 — DEN notes
DEN lost 107-117 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 43% (41 of 96) to PHX's 44%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 14 times to PHX's 22. DEN turned it over 14 times to PHX's 9, and PHX turned those into 9 steals. Murray led with 28 (12 of 25, 2 of 6 from three); Jokić added 25, Porter Jr. 20. Q4 was theirs, 21-12, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 105-86 against them. A. Gordon's -22 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/07 vs BOS 115-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 115-109. DEN shot 50% (45 of 90) to BOS's 45%, 4 of 21 from three. DEN turned it over 7 times to BOS's 12. Jokić led with 32 (11 of 19, 10 of 10 at the line); Murray added 19, Gordon 16. The hinge was Q2, 32-26: a lead of 2 became 8. Watson was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/09 vs UTA 142-121 — DEN notes
DEN won 142-121. DEN shot 66% (55 of 83) to UTA's 50%, 19 of 32 from three, and got to the line 16 times to UTA's 25. Murray led with 37 (13 of 21, 6 of 9 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 26, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q2, 40-22: a lead of 16 became 34, and the lead reached 39. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/11 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barrett at 21 and Quickley at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Brown (4 straight), Ramsey (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and Toronto minus-10 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Toronto's 123. Call it Denver 120, Toronto 110, Denver by 10.
3/13 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Butler III at 24 and Rozier at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Herro (8 straight), Richardson (11 straight), Wright (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 15 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Miami 114, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
3/15 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Vassell at 19 a game. Without Osman (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/17 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 55 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 23 free throws a game to Denver's 16. Call it Dallas 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
2/29 @ ORL 107-115 — UTA notes
UTA lost 107-115. UTA shot 42% (34 of 80) to ORL's 55%, 16 of 37 from three. Collins led with 19 (7 of 10, 2 of 3 from three); George added 19, Sexton 19. Q2 was theirs, 30-24, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. Sensabaugh's -8 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ MIA 120-126 — UTA notes
UTA lost 120-126. UTA shot 48% (42 of 87) to MIA's 52%, 14 of 35 from three. George led with 31 (12 of 23, 6 of 14 from three); Markkanen added 25, Collins 18. Q1 was theirs, 34-30, but the other 3 periods went 96-86 against them. They led by as many as 11. Collins's -16 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 vs WAS 127-115 — UTA notes
UTA won 127-115. UTA shot 49% (49 of 101) to WAS's 43%, 16 of 40 from three, and got to the line 15 times to WAS's 23. Clarkson led with 38 (13 of 26, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Sexton added 29, Collins 17. The hinge was Q4, 25-14: a lead of 1 became 12. UTA trailed 74-75 at the half and won the second half 53-40. Clarkson was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/06 vs CHI 117-119 — UTA notes
UTA lost 117-119. UTA shot 46% (44 of 96) to CHI's 50%, 15 of 47 from three. Collins led with 25 (11 of 20, 2 of 9 from three); Sexton added 24, Clarkson 15. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 10 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 93-83 against them. Horton-Tucker's -10 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ DEN 121-142 — UTA notes
UTA lost 121-142. UTA took 11 more shots (94 to 83), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to DEN's 66%, 8 of 26 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DEN's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 13. George led with 29 (10 of 17, 5 of 8 from three); Clarkson added 22, Collins 19. Q3 was theirs, 44-24, the deficit cut from 34 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 118-77 against them. Clarkson's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/12 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 21 and Clarkson at 20 a game. Without Markkanen (3 straight), Hendricks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 103 a night to Utah's 123 and the line, where Utah takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 15. Call it Boston 119, Utah 114.
3/15 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Clarkson at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Markkanen (4 straight), Hendricks (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Bogdanović at 15 a game. Without Young (9 straight), Johnson (3 straight), Okongwu (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 103 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Atlanta 117, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
3/16 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Clarkson at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. Without Markkanen (5 straight), Lofton Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 18 a game. Without Towns (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 112 a night to Utah's 124 and the arc, Utah at 38 percent from three to Minnesota's 33. Call it Minnesota 117, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.
3/18 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 24 and Sexton at 21 a game. Without Markkanen (6 straight), Clarkson (2 straight), Lofton Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Reid at 20 a game. Without Towns (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 109 a night to Utah's 125 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
UTABS B. Sensabaugh
CS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
JJ J. Juzang
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
LS L. Samanic
TH T. Horton-Tucker
WK W. Kessler
DEN/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
No letdown: Murray, Jokic, Porter Jr. lead Nuggets to 142-121 rout of short-handed Utah Jazz
DENVER -- — Michael Malone needn't have worried about his superstar center and a potential letdown when the Denver Nuggets faced the short-handed Utah Jazz .
Nikola Jokic played through a bruised right arm that kept him out of shootaround and Jamal Murray scored 37 points, helping the Nuggets bulldoze the Jazz 142-121 Saturday night.
Jokic had 26 points, six rebounds and eight assists, and Michael Porter Jr . added 19 points for Denver, which inched within a half-game of Western Conferene leading Oklahoma City, which was idle Saturday night.
The Nuggets, who were coming off a big win over Boston, led by as many as 39 points in the first half, which helped them withstand Utah's third-quarter rally that cut the deficit to 14.
The Jazz scored as many points in that third quarter as they did in the first half.
Down 78-44 at the break, the Jazz outscored Denver 44-24. Keyonte George led Utah with 29 points and fueled the Jazz's third-quarter surge that made it more respectable and had the sellout crowd buzzing over a potential historic collapse.
“That was embarrassing,” Malone said.
But he was thrilled with the other three quarters of play.
“I was really proud of our approach to start the game,” Malone said. “To build a 39-point lead was outstanding. Unfortunately, coming out of the half, we did not do anything remotely close to what we did in the first half to get that lead.”
The Nuggets made 14 of 20 long-range shots before halftime and finished 19 of 32 from beyond the arc, including Murray's 6-of-9 night.
“I give a lot of credit to the Nuggets,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “I mean, 14 of 20 from three in the first half is pretty spectacular. And they're a championship level team and when a team shoots the ball from the perimeter like that it's a hard game to win.”
With Murray leading the second unit in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets recalibrated and cruised to their eighth in nine games since the All-Star break.
The Nuggets were coming off a 115-109 win over the Celtics on Thursday night that gave them a season sweep of the Eastern Conference leaders, so Malone worried that his team would have an emotional letdown.
“Getting up for the best team in the NBA is easy," Malone said an hour before tip-off. “And Boston's a sexy game.”
Not so this one.
“Tonight is different. You're playing against a team that's 5½ games out of the play-in with no Lauri Markkanen (bruised right thigh), they have no All-Stars," Malone said. "They're playing a lot of guys that our players probably don't even know about — They don't know who Brice Sensabaugh is.”
So, Malone said he'd continue to hammer away at the point that the reason the defending NBA champs are rolling is because “we have not cared who we're playing; we've cared about playing up to our standards.”
They did that Saturday night, at least for three quarters.
“In every game that we've played I feel like there's a stint where we haven't played well,” said Murray, who sank six 3-pointers in nine tries. "So, I don't feel like today's any different. We led by how much from the get-go? So, I feel like we were doing a pretty damn good job for the whole game.
“It was just the one quarter they played harder than us. And we got back to it and we closed the game out. So, we did a good job of just staying with it, picking up our energy and not letting their run affect us.”