Game ID: 22501072
Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 37 25 36 37 135UTA 26 36 43 24 129
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 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 18 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Roddy missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/17 after 2, 7 min since (46% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 3/17 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 19 since 2/07, returns tonight: 20 min (67% of 30)
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 16)
OUT Roddy missed 5 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Roddy missed 6 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Valančiūnas missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/22 after 19, 20 min since (67% of 30)
BACK Pickett back 3/17 after 2, 5 min since (29% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Roddy missed 7 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Valančiūnas missed 3 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/22 after 19, 20 min since (67% of 30)
BACK Pickett back 3/17 after 2, 5 min since (29% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Pickett missed 2 since 3/24, out tonight
OUT Roddy missed 8 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Valančiūnas missed 4 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 3/24, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/22 after 19, 22 min since (73% of 30)
DEN availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Pickett missed 3 since 3/24, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 16)
OUT Roddy missed 9 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Valančiūnas missed 5 since 3/20, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 3/24, returns tonight: 8 min (66% of 12)
BACK Watson back 3/22 after 19, 21 min since (72% of 30)
DEN availability going into 4/01 · 2 days' restOUT Roddy missed 10 since 3/12, returns tonight: 2 min (11% of 15)
BACK Watson back 3/22 after 19, 22 min since (73% of 30)
BACK Pickett back 3/22 after 2, 2 min since (12% of 16)
BACK Valančiūnas back 3/29 after 5, 5 min since (39% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 3/22 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 2 days' restBACK Pickett back 3/29 after 3, 2 min since (12% of 16)
BACK Roddy back 4/01 after 10, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 3/29 after 5, 9 min since (70% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 3/29 after 3, 8 min since (66% of 12)
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 2 since 4/01, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 4/01, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/29 after 3, 2 min since (12% of 16)
BACK Roddy back 4/01 after 10, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 3/29 after 5, 8 min since (61% of 13)
NEW Gordon 28 to 33 min over the last 3
UTA availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT Mykhailiuk missed 8 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 3/18 after 3, 12 min since (48% of 26)
BACK Collier back 3/11 after 2, 25 min since (99% of 26)
BACK Hinson back 3/15 after 2, 16 min since (76% of 20)
BACK Love back 3/18 after 2, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Williams 24 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Harkless 21 to 27 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mykhailiuk missed 9 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 3/18 after 3, 12 min since (48% of 26)
BACK Collier back 3/11 after 2, 25 min since (99% of 26)
BACK Hinson back 3/15 after 2, 18 min since (88% of 20)
BACK Love back 3/18 after 2, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Williams 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 29 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 3/19, returns tonight: 31 min (134% of 24)
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 10 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Love missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 3/18 after 3, 19 min since (72% of 26)
BACK Hinson back 3/15 after 2, 18 min since (88% of 20)
NEW Williams 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Harkless 21 to 32 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 11 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Hinson missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 11 min (54% of 20)
OUT Love missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 3/18 after 3, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Sensabaugh back 3/23 after 2, 31 min since (134% of 24)
NEW Williams 24 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 33 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 12 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Love missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 3/18 after 3, 25 min since (95% of 26)
BACK Sensabaugh back 3/23 after 2, 31 min since (134% of 24)
BACK Hinson back 3/25 after 2, 11 min since (54% of 20)
NEW Williams 24 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 30 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Collier missed 5 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 13 since 3/04, returns tonight: 9 min (40% of 23)
OUT Love missed 5 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Sensabaugh back 3/23 after 2, 28 min since (121% of 24)
BACK Hinson back 3/25 after 2, 11 min since (54% of 20)
NEW Williams 24 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 35 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 6 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Hinson missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Love missed 6 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Sensabaugh back 3/23 after 2, 30 min since (128% of 24)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 3/28 after 13, 9 min since (40% of 23)
NEW Williams 24 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 33 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 7 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Hinson missed 3 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Love missed 7 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Sensabaugh back 3/23 after 2, 29 min since (124% of 24)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 3/28 after 13, 9 min since (40% of 23)
NEW Williams 24 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Harkless 21 to 32 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Collier missed 8 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 2 since 3/30, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 2 since 3/30, out tonight
OUT Hinson missed 4 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Love missed 8 since 3/19, out tonight
NEW Williams 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 29 min over the last 4
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 127 a night and allowing 122, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Jokić at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Pickett (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 29 free throws a game; Bailey at 25 and Williams at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Collier (4 straight), Mykhailiuk (12 straight), Love (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 42 percent from three to Utah's 31 and the defense, Denver allowing 122 a night to Utah's 129. Call it Denver 127, Utah 117, Denver by 10.
3/20 vs TOR 121-115 — DEN notes
DEN won 121-115. DEN shot 54% (44 of 81) to TOR's 51%, 14 of 30 from three. Murray led with 31 (10 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 23, Jokić 22. The hinge was Q4, 36-21: DEN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 6. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/22 vs POR 128-112 — DEN notes
DEN won 128-112. DEN shot 54% (49 of 90) to POR's 43%, 18 of 46 from three. Jokić led with 22 (10 of 18, 2 of 8 from three); Murray added 22, Johnson 19. The hinge was Q3, 32-24: a lead of 6 became 14, and the lead reached 20. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/24 @ PHX 125-123 — DEN notes
DEN won 125-123. DEN shot 51% (45 of 88) to PHX's 44%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line 30 times to PHX's 37. DEN turned it over 9 times to PHX's 3. Jokić led with 23 (9 of 16, 5 of 7 at the line); Murray added 21, Hardaway Jr. 18. The hinge was Q2, 39-22: DEN came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 10. Strawther was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/25 vs DAL 142-135 — DEN notes
DEN won 142-135. DEN shot 56% (50 of 89) to DAL's 49%, 19 of 38 from three. DEN turned it over 9 times to DAL's 4. Murray led with 53 (19 of 28, 9 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Jokić added 23, Watson 21. The hinge was Q2, 34-26: a lead of 1 became 9. Hardaway Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/27 vs UTA 135-129 — DEN notes
DEN won 135-129. DEN shot 47% (45 of 95) to UTA's 56%, 19 of 48 from three, and went to the line 32 times to UTA's 19 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 33 (13 of 16, 5 of 8 at the line); Murray added 31, Hardaway Jr. 21. The hinge was Q4, 37-24: DEN came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 6. Hardaway Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/29 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murray at 32 and Jokić at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Pickett (3 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 18 and Santos at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Ste. Curry (24 straight), Moody (2 straight), Horford (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 22 times a game to Denver's 11 and the arc, Denver at 43 percent from three to Golden State's 37. Call it Denver 123, Golden State 117.
4/01 @ UTA — 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 118 a night and allowing 133, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 20 and Bailey at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Collier (7 straight), Hinson (3 straight), Love (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Jokić at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Utah minus-9 and the defense, Denver allowing 118 a night to Utah's 133. Call it Denver 125, Utah 119.
4/04 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 27 free throws a game; Murray at 32 and Jokić at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 31 and Castle at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 104 a night to Denver's 119 and the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-14 a night and Denver plus-5. Call it Denver 119, San Antonio 118, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/06 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 31 and Jokić at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jones (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Avdija at 22 and Holiday at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Grant (3 straight), Sharpe (26 straight), Krejčí (10 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 99 a night to Denver's 122 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-12 a night and Denver plus-2. Call it Denver 118, Portland 116, Portland keeping it close.
3/19 vs MIL 128-96 — UTA notes
UTA won 128-96. UTA shot 54% (48 of 89) to MIL's 41%, 18 of 48 from three. UTA turned it over 13 times to MIL's 20. The glass went 47-35 for them. Bailey led with 33 (13 of 27, 7 of 19 from three); Harkless added 23, Williams 23. The hinge was Q1, 30-19: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Mbeng was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
3/21 vs PHI 116-126 — UTA notes
UTA lost 116-126. UTA shot 41% (39 of 96) to PHI's 50%, 9 of 40 from three. UTA turned it over 8 times to PHI's 16. The glass went 39-56 against them. Bailey led with 25 (7 of 20, 4 of 14 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Chandler added 19, Harkless 15. Q2 was theirs, 36-26, turning a 4-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-80 against them. Williams's -18 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs TOR 127-143 — UTA notes
UTA lost 127-143. UTA shot 47% (39 of 83) to TOR's 61%, 13 of 36 from three, and went to the line 43 times to TOR's 28 — 36 points from the stripe to their 15. Bailey led with 37 (11 of 21, 7 of 10 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Sensabaugh added 24, Konchar 19. Q4 was theirs, 39-26, the deficit cut from 29 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 117-88 against them. Mbeng's -34 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs WAS 110-133 — UTA notes
UTA lost 110-133. UTA shot 47% (45 of 96) to WAS's 55%, 7 of 29 from three. The glass went 40-56 against them. Williams led with 24 (11 of 20, 0 of 3 from three); Hinson added 21, Bailey 15. Q4 was theirs, 35-29, the deficit cut from 29 to 23, but the other 3 periods went 104-75 against them. Mbeng's -28 in 44 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 @ DEN 129-135 — UTA notes
UTA lost 129-135. UTA shot 56% (53 of 95) to DEN's 47%, 9 of 33 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 32. Filipowski led with 25 (11 of 17, 1 of 6 from three); Williams added 24, Konchar 16. Q2 was theirs, 36-25, the deficit cut from 11 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 110-93 against them. They led by as many as 14. Mbeng's -16 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 23 and Green at 18 a game. Without Brooks (16 straight), Williams (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 127, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 28 free throws a game; Bailey at 25 and Williams at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Collier (5 straight), Mykhailiuk (13 straight), Love (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 110 a night to Utah's 127 and the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Utah's 30. Call it Phoenix 121, Utah 113.
3/30 vs CLE — 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 118 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bailey at 21 and Sensabaugh at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Collier (6 straight), Hinson (2 straight), Love (6 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Harden at 23 a game. Without Tyson (4 straight), Wade (2 straight), Porter Jr. (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Utah minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 119 a night to Utah's 134. Call it Cleveland 124, Utah 119.
4/01 vs DEN — 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 118 a night and allowing 133, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 20 and Bailey at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Collier (7 straight), Hinson (3 straight), Love (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Jokić at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Utah minus-9 and the defense, Denver allowing 118 a night to Utah's 133. Call it Denver 125, Utah 119.
4/03 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Finney-Smith (4 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 131, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Filipowski at 24 and Sensabaugh at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Collier (8 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight), Harkless (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Utah minus-12 and the defense, Houston allowing 106 a night to Utah's 131. Call it Houston 123, Utah 111, Houston by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
BB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
CJ C. Johnson
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
SJ S. Jones
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
UTAAB A. Bailey
BM B. Mbeng
BS B. Sensabaugh
CW C. Williams
EH E. Harkless
JK J. Konchar
KC K. Chandler
KF K. Filipowski
OT O. Tshiebwe
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
Jokic's triple-double, Murray and Johnson hit late 3s to rally Nuggets by Jazz, 135-129
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, Cam Johnson and Jamal Murray combined for four 3-pointers in the final 2:20, and the Denver Nuggets rallied from 13 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 135-129 on Friday night.
Murray finished with 31 points two nights after scoring a season-high 53 . Jokic had his fourth straight triple-double and 31st of the season to help Denver avoid a costly loss in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
The Nuggets are in fourth place, a game ahead of Minnesota and a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers .
Kyle Filipowski led Utah with 25 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter when Denver rallied from a 120-107 deficit. Jokic started the comeback with a layup, Tim Hardaway Jr ., who finished with 21 points, hit a 3-pointer and two free throws that made it 124-121.
After Ace Bailey made a baseline jumper, Jokic hit a turnaround and Johnson tied it with a 3-pointer. The teams traded threes before Johnson, who had 12 points, put the Nuggets ahead for good with another from deep with 46 seconds left.
After a turnover, Murray sealed with another from behind the arc with 17 seconds left.
Utah, which has lost 26 of its last 29, played without several key players, including Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen ,
Denver opened an early 12-point lead but the Jazz rallied in the second quarter to tie it at 62 at halftime.
Utah scored 43 points in the third quarter — 15 off eight Nuggets turnovers — and led by as many as 14 late in the period. The Nuggets rallied to cut it to single digits, capped by Jokic’s 39-footer that bounced on the rim twice before dropping in after the horn.