Game ID: 22300524
Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UTA 35 36 28 25 124DEN 24 29 25 33 111
DEN @ UTA ScoutingDEN @ 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.
UTA availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 26 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 12/30, returns tonight: 12 min (61% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Hendricks missed 5 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 5 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 9 min since (46% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 6 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 6 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/05 after 3, 12 min since (61% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (15% of 21)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (15% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (18% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 29 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Horton-Tucker missed 4 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (16% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 5 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 15 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 15 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (16% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/18 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 6 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 16 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 16 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (33% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 25 min (76% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 11 min since (98% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/04 · 2 days' restBACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 25 min since (76% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/28 after 2, 13 min since (119% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 10 min (69% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 1/01, returns tonight: 21 min (194% of 11)
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 15 min since (99% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 21 min since (194% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 14 min since (132% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 14 min since (131% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 5 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Clarkson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (7 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (12 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-3 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Utah 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/03 vs DET 154-148 — UTA notes
UTA won 154-148 in 1 overtime. UTA shot 51% (53 of 103) to DET's 53%, 16 of 32 from three, and went to the line 35 times to DET's 22 — 32 points from the stripe to their 17. UTA turned it over 12 times to DET's 17. Clarkson led with 36 (11 of 20, 4 of 5 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Markkanen added 31, Sexton 25. The hinge was OT1, 16-10: from level to 6 ahead. UTA trailed 66-68 at the half and won the second half 88-80. Kessler was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/05 @ BOS 97-126 — UTA notes
UTA lost 97-126. UTA shot 36% (34 of 94) to BOS's 43%, 6 of 34 from three. UTA turned it over 18 times to BOS's 12, and BOS turned those into 9 steals. Markkanen led with 17 (7 of 16, 2 of 7 from three); Sexton added 13, Collins 12. Q4 was theirs, 22-19, the deficit cut from 32 to 29, but the other 3 periods went 107-75 against them. Collins's -28 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 @ PHI 120-109 — UTA notes
UTA won 120-109. UTA shot 58% (46 of 80) to PHI's 40%, 8 of 30 from three. UTA turned it over 23 times to PHI's 6, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 48-34 for them. Markkanen led with 33 (12 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Sexton added 22, Collins 19. The hinge was Q3, 29-22: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 15. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
1/08 @ MIL 132-116 — UTA notes
UTA won 132-116. UTA shot 52% (47 of 90) to MIL's 45%, 20 of 44 from three. Markkanen led with 21 (5 of 15, 4 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Clarkson added 21, Collins 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-23: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Clarkson was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/10 vs DEN 124-111 — UTA notes
UTA won 124-111. UTA shot 55% (46 of 83) to DEN's 46%, 13 of 33 from three. Clarkson led with 27 (12 of 19, 3 of 8 from three); Markkanen added 26, Sexton 22. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/12 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Clarkson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (13 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 124, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Siakam at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (2 straight), Dick (8 straight), Freeman-Liberty (36 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 43 percent from three to Utah's 36 and the line, where Utah takes 28 free throws a game to Toronto's 20. Call it Utah 122, Toronto 119, Toronto keeping it close.
1/13 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 20 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Vincent (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Utah 119, the Lakers 114.
1/15 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 115, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (5 straight), Juzang (15 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mathurin at 18 and Turner at 14 a game. Without Haliburton (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-13 a night and Indiana plus-0 and the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Indiana's 20. Call it Utah 123, Indiana 117.
1/18 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Sexton at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hendricks (2 straight), Horton-Tucker (6 straight), Juzang (16 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and OKC plus-2 and the line, where Utah takes 29 free throws a game to OKC's 18. Call it Utah 119, OKC 117, OKC keeping it close.
1/01 vs CHA 111-93 — DEN notes
DEN won 111-93. DEN shot 49% (41 of 83) to CHA's 42%, 15 of 38 from three. Murray led with 25 (7 of 16, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 22, Jackson 15. The hinge was Q3, 40-17: from level to 23 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/04 @ GSW 130-127 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-127. DEN shot 56% (48 of 85) to GSW's 54%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 29 times to GSW's 16 — 25 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 34 (13 of 16, 6 of 7 at the line); Gordon added 30, Murray 25. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: DEN came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 3. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
1/05 vs ORL 120-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 120-122. DEN took 13 more shots (95 to 82), but shot 51% to ORL's 50%, 9 of 33 from three, and got to the line 19 times to ORL's 34. Jokić led with 29 (13 of 19); Porter Jr. added 22, Murray 20. Q1 was theirs, 37-28, but the other 3 periods went 94-83 against them. They led by as many as 18. Watson's -16 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs DET 131-114 — DEN notes
DEN won 131-114. DEN shot 59% (47 of 80) to DET's 47%, 10 of 27 from three. Murray led with 37 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Caldwell-Pope added 18, Porter Jr. 18. The hinge was Q3, 43-28: a lead of 8 became 23. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
1/10 @ UTA 111-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 111-124. DEN shot 46% (37 of 81) to UTA's 55%, 13 of 33 from three. Jokić led with 27 (8 of 9, 10 of 12 at the line); Murray added 17, Gordon 12. Q4 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 21 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 99-78 against them. Murray's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 46 percent from three to Denver's 36 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-1. Call it Denver 115, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/14 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 24 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Turner at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Haliburton (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Denver 121, Indiana 119, Indiana keeping it close.
1/16 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Harris at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Covington (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 55 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to Philadelphia's 11. Call it Philadelphia 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/19 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 55 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Boston minus-2 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
BK B. Key
CB C. Braun
CG C. Gillespie
DJ D. Jordan
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
LS L. Samanic
OA O. Agbaji
OY O. Yurtseven
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Hendricks
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
Clarkson scores 27 points to help the surging Jazz beat the Nuggets 124-111
SALT LAKE CITY -- — Jordan Clarkson had 27 points and nine assists to send the Utah Jazz past the Denver Nuggets 124-111 on Wednesday night for their ninth victory in 11 games.
“We're having fun!” Clarkson said. “I draw a lot of attention on the offensive end, so I'm just slowing down and trying to make the plays for my teammates. ... It's spacing and opportunity.”
After beating Philadelphia and Milwaukee on the road, Utah earned its third win in five days over an elite team by taking down the defending NBA champions.
“They’re playing really hard," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “The way they’re rooting for each other and moving the ball and really playing as a team, it feels good."
Lauri Markkanen added 26 points and 12 rebounds, Collin Sexton scored 22 and John Collins had 15 points for the Jazz (19-20), who shot 55% from the field and finished with 18 fast-break points.
“We're building chemistry, really learning our identity, how to play on both sides of the ball — truly playing together,” Markkanen said.
Nikola Jokic scored 27 points for the Nuggets and was nearly perfect shooting: 8 for 9 from the floor and 10 of 12 at the foul line. But he didn’t get much help.
Denver had won six straight road games since a Dec. 6 defeat at the Los Angeles Clippers.
“They played harder than us. I think that was the most obvious thing for me,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “They came out with tremendous energy. They attacked us for 48 (minutes) and I didn’t think we came close to matching that.”
Jamal Murray scored 17 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon each had 12 for the Nuggets (26-13).
Jazz reserves, a key to the team’s recent surge, outscored their Denver counterparts 53-38 as Utah won its sixth in a row at home.
Clarkson is the leader of the bench gang and he shot 12 for 19 and had three 3-pointers along with a bundle of highlight-reel passes to teammates for dunks and open jumpers.
“Jordan is understanding the impact that he can have on the entire team,” Hardy said. “He is just in a really good flow right now. I think he’s seeing ... that you can still score a lot of points and move the ball.”
Denver trimmed a 23-point deficit to 13 in the third quarter, but the Jazz responded with a quick 9-2 run.
“If we continue to do this, we’re going to take a real nosedive," Malone said. “That’s the reality of it. We’re playing against some really, really talented teams that are having great seasons and if we don’t come with a workman-like mentality, there’s gonna be more nights like this."
Jokic was visibly frustrated when Markkanen’s driving layup put the Jazz back up by 20. He slammed the ball on the court and shook his head while going to the timeout huddle.
“Of course you get frustrated, but I’m trying to keep myself calm and just trying to help the team to somehow win the game,” said Jokic, who had six turnovers.
The Nuggets have lost six straight in Salt Lake City. Their last win was Feb. 5, 2020.
The Jazz closed the first half on a 19-7 run to lead 71-53 at the break. Clarkson, who had 16 points and seven assists in the half, scored or assisted on 11 of Utah’s 13 second-quarter baskets.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.