Game ID: 22301154
Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UTA 17 36 27 15 95DEN 34 31 22 24 111
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 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Lofton Jr. missed 10 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 5 since 3/21, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 3/27 after 3, 4 min since (20% of 20)
BACK Dunn back 3/29 after 2, 22 min since (114% of 19)
NEW George 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 21 to 30 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 3 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Lofton Jr. missed 11 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 13 min (64% of 20)
OUT Preston missed 6 since 3/21, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/29 after 2, 24 min since (129% of 19)
NEW George 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 21 to 30 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Clarkson missed 4 since 3/27, not on tonight's roster
OUT Collins missed 2 since 3/31, not on tonight's roster
OUT Lofton Jr. missed 12 since 3/12, returns tonight: 12 min (53% of 23)
OUT Preston missed 7 since 3/21, returns tonight: 17 min (166% of 10)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 3/27 after 3, 8 min since (42% of 20)
BACK Dunn back 3/29 after 2, 24 min since (127% of 19)
NEW George 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restBACK Lofton Jr. back 4/05 after 12, 12 min since (53% of 23)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 3/27 after 3, 14 min since (72% of 20)
BACK Dunn back 3/29 after 2, 24 min since (126% of 19)
BACK Preston back 4/05 after 7, 17 min since (166% of 10)
NEW George 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Juzang 19 to 26 min over the last 3
NEW Yurtseven 11 to 17 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restBACK Lofton Jr. back 4/05 after 12, 12 min since (53% of 23)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 4/02 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 20)
BACK Dunn back 3/29 after 2, 24 min since (126% of 19)
BACK Preston back 4/05 after 7, 17 min since (166% of 10)
NEW Juzang 19 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Yurtseven 11 to 21 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Lofton Jr. missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 27 min (121% of 23)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 4/02 after 2, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Preston back 4/05 after 7, 11 min since (112% of 10)
NEW Bazley 24 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 3
NEW Juzang 19 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Sensabaugh 18 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Yurtseven 11 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/12 · back-to-backBACK Lofton Jr. back 4/05 after 12, 20 min since (87% of 23)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 4/02 after 2, 25 min since (127% of 20)
BACK Preston back 4/05 after 7, 11 min since (112% of 10)
NEW Juzang 19 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Yurtseven 11 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restBACK Lofton Jr. back 4/05 after 12, 25 min since (110% of 23)
BACK Preston back 4/05 after 7, 14 min since (133% of 10)
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Juzang 19 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Yurtseven 11 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 13 min since (122% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 3/23, returns tonight: 21 min (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 21 min since (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 28 min (87% of 32)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 24 min since (73% of 33)
NEW Braun 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 25 min since (77% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 4 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 26 min since (80% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (88% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/20 · 5 days' restOUT Jordan missed 5 since 4/06, returns tonight: 9 min (80% of 11)
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (86% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and George at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Porter Jr. at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-8 and the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Denver 117, Utah 111.
3/31 @ SAC 106-127 — UTA notes
UTA lost 106-127. UTA shot 41% (34 of 83) to SAC's 54%, 16 of 41 from three. The glass went 33-44 against them. Sensabaugh led with 22 (6 of 14, 5 of 10 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sexton added 22, George 18. Q2 was theirs, 29-29, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Sexton's -27 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 vs CLE 113-129 — UTA notes
UTA lost 113-129. UTA shot 48% (41 of 85) to CLE's 54%, 16 of 37 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CLE's 24. UTA turned it over 19 times to CLE's 13, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. Sensabaugh led with 22 (8 of 14, 6 of 9 from three); Sexton added 19, Hendricks 18. Q3 was theirs, 34-30, the deficit cut from 20 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 99-79 against them. George's -19 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/05 @ LAC 102-131 — UTA notes
UTA lost 102-131. UTA shot 38% (35 of 91) to LAC's 56%, 9 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to LAC's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. Horton-Tucker led with 17 (5 of 14, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Bazley added 12, Yurtseven 12. Q3 was theirs, 37-29, the deficit cut from 33 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 102-65 against them. Sexton's -25 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/07 @ GSW 110-118 — UTA notes
UTA lost 110-118. UTA shot 47% (39 of 83) to GSW's 53%, 15 of 35 from three, and went to the line 21 times to GSW's 6 — 17 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 29-47 against them. Juzang led with 27 (9 of 12, 7 of 8 from three); George added 25, Sexton 15. Q4 was theirs, 33-21, the deficit cut from 20 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 97-77 against them.
4/09 vs DEN 95-111 — UTA notes
UTA lost 95-111. UTA shot 40% (36 of 91) to DEN's 49%, 10 of 31 from three. UTA turned it over 14 times to DEN's 9, and DEN turned those into 12 steals. Horton-Tucker led with 24 (10 of 23, 4 of 8 from three); Yurtseven added 20, Samanic 15. Q2 was theirs, 36-31, the deficit cut from 17 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 80-59 against them. Samanic's -24 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 123, shooting 43 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Horton-Tucker at 18 and Sexton at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Lofton Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Ja. Green at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 117, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
4/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Harden at 18 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. Without Harden (2 straight), Leonard (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Horton-Tucker at 17 and Sexton at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and Utah minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Utah's 122. Call it the Clippers 120, Utah 109, the Clippers by 11.
4/14 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 17 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Horton-Tucker at 17 and Lofton Jr. at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 43 percent from three to Utah's 32 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it Golden State 119, Utah 110.
3/31 vs CLE 130-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-101. DEN shot 57% (50 of 87) to CLE's 46%, 21 of 33 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 21. The glass went 51-28 for them. Jokić led with 26 (11 of 18); Caldwell-Pope added 22, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/02 vs SAS 110-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 110-105. DEN shot 44% (43 of 98) to SAS's 40%, 11 of 34 from three. Jokić led with 42 (18 of 32, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 23, Porter Jr. 15. The hinge was Q1, 30-23: from level to 7 ahead.
4/04 @ LAC 100-102 — DEN notes
DEN lost 100-102. DEN shot 43% (36 of 83) to LAC's 38%, 11 of 35 from three, and got to the line 25 times to LAC's 32. DEN turned it over 13 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 10 steals. Jokić led with 36 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 18, Caldwell-Pope 16. Q1 was theirs, 31-20, but the other 3 periods went 82-69 against them. They led by as many as 17. Jackson's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs ATL 142-110 — DEN notes
DEN won 142-110. DEN shot 60% (53 of 88) to ATL's 43%, 23 of 41 from three, and got to the line 16 times to ATL's 29. Caldwell-Pope led with 24 (9 of 12, 6 of 9 from three); Porter Jr. added 20, Jokić 19. The hinge was Q3, 42-30: a lead of 13 became 25, and the lead reached 32. Caldwell-Pope was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/09 @ UTA 111-95 — DEN notes
DEN won 111-95. DEN shot 49% (46 of 94) to UTA's 40%, 14 of 37 from three. DEN turned it over 9 times to UTA's 14. Jokić led with 28 (12 of 20); Murray added 28, Porter Jr. 12. The hinge was Q1, 34-17: from level to 17 ahead. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
4/10 vs MIN — 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 119 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 18 a game. Without Towns (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Denver 112, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
4/12 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Branham at 15 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 30 and the defense, Denver allowing 104 a night to San Antonio's 113. Call it Denver 115, San Antonio 109.
4/14 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 108, shooting 41 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaRavia at 24 and Pippen Jr. at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Aldama (6 straight), Kennard (5 straight), Clarke (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Memphis's 35. Call it Denver 112, Memphis 107.
4/20 vs LAL — 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 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. 5 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 30 and Davis at 23 a game. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (32 straight), Wood (26 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the defense, Denver allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it Denver 119, the Lakers 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENCB C. Braun
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
PI Pickett
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
UTABS B. Sensabaugh
DB D. Bazley
JJ J. Juzang
JP J. Preston
KG K. George
LS L. Samanic
OY O. Yurtseven
TH T. Hendricks
TH T. Horton-Tucker
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
Murray and Jokic score 28 each as the Nuggets run past shorthanded Jazz 111-95
SALT LAKE CITY -- — Jamal Murray scored 28 points, Nikola Jokic tallied 28 points and 13 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets pushed past the shorthanded Utah Jazz 111-95 on Tuesday night.
Murray missed seven games with a knee injury but is working his way back into game shape the last two contests. After being restricted to 21 minutes against Atlanta on Saturday, Murray went 11-for-20 in 27 minutes against the Jazz.
“I just go in there playing free,” Murray said. “I play winning basketball anyways. So I’m just looking to not hesitate — that’s probably the biggest thing — and just stay aggressive all game.”
Murray dunked a career-high five times in the first half and had four steals.
“He was the defensive player of the game — four steals, three blocks and five deflections. He took the challenge of guarding some of their bigger players and wanted that challenge,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.
In the fourth quarter, he hit three straight 3s to push a close game to 104-90 with 4:10 to play.
“Man, put me in the game. So I went in there and made some shots and yeah, that was it,” Murray said about taking over down the stretch.
Jokic is happy to have his point guard back.
“He’s a warrior. Obviously, he really wants to play and when he plays he doesn’t think about it. Hopefully, he’s back now because we need him,” Jokic said about Murray.
Talen Horton-Tucker scored 24 points for Utah. Omer Yurtseven posted a season-high 20 points and Luka Samanic had a season-best 15 points for the Jazz, who have lost 13 straight.
Horton-Tucker didn’t score in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets clamped down on the rest of the Jazz as well.
“You want your defense to be at its best in the fourth quarter. Obviously, just 15 points and 25% from the field is outstanding. That allowed a close game to kind of push it open and give some breathing room and get some guys out down the stretch,” Malone said.
The Nuggets have won four of five and have their sights set on the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Denver played well from the opening tip, jumping out to a 19-point lead in the first quarter.
The Nuggets (55-24) may have wanted to get their starters more rest, but the Jazz stayed close until Murray got hot in the fourth quarter.
“There was a lot of good basketball our team played tonight. We just have some stretches where we sort of lose the plot,” Utah coach Will Hardy said.
The defending champions turn around Wednesday and host Minnesota (also 55-24), who defeated Washington 130-121 on Tuesday. Oklahoma City is one game behind in the third spot with the season ending on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Jazz started featuring their younger players weeks ago and are jockeying for lottery position. Utah sat six of their top players.
“Let’s go home! We got a big game in our building against a division rival and the team that we’re battling with for first place. Three games to go, and the No. 1 seed is still up in the air,” Malone said.