Game ID: 22500881
Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
Monday, March 2, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UTA 34 33 26 32 125DEN 33 33 34 28 128
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 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT George missed 3 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 51 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 42 since 11/21, returns tonight: 7 min (35% of 21)
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 18 min since (76% of 23)
BACK Love back 2/07 after 2, 14 min since (84% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/05 after 18, 7 min since (45% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 35 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/23 · 2 days' restOUT Markkanen missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 32 min (94% of 34)
OUT George missed 4 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 52 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 18 min since (76% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 7 min since (35% of 21)
BACK Love back 2/07 after 2, 11 min since (67% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 5 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 53 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (61% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 11 min since (52% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
UTA availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 6 since 2/09, returns tonight: 23 min (71% of 33)
OUT Kessler missed 54 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (62% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 14 min since (67% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
UTA availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 55 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 23 min since (71% of 33)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (62% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 18 min since (84% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (57% of 17)
UTA availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 56 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 3 since 2/26, returns tonight: 21 min (110% of 19)
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 19 min since (93% of 21)
UTA availability going into 3/05 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 57 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 28 min since (84% of 33)
BACK Bamba back 3/04 after 3, 21 min since (110% of 19)
UTA availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 58 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Love missed 3 since 3/02, returns tonight: 14 min (82% of 17)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 28 min since (84% of 33)
BACK Bamba back 3/04 after 3, 19 min since (100% of 19)
UTA availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 59 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Bamba back 3/04 after 3, 19 min since (100% of 19)
BACK Love back 3/07 after 3, 14 min since (82% of 17)
NEW Filipowski 23 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 5 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 11 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 29 min since (96% of 31)
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 23 min since (104% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (70% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 6 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 12 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (70% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 7 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 13 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 8 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 14 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 5 since 2/19, returns tonight: 6 min (41% of 16)
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 18 min since (78% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 9 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 15 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 6 min since (41% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 7 min since (60% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 10 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 16 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 12 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (71% of 31)
OUT Watson missed 11 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 17 since 1/27, returns tonight: 22 min (77% of 28)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 3/01, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 12 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (71% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 22 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
NEW Braun 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 13 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (73% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 13 min since (57% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
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 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 19 and Collier at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Kessler (55 straight), Bamba (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Watson (9 straight), Gordon (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-10 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Denver 121, Utah 116.
2/20 @ MEM 114-123 — UTA notes
UTA lost 114-123. UTA shot 49% (46 of 93) to MEM's 49%, 13 of 34 from three, and got to the line 16 times to MEM's 33. UTA turned it over 24 times to MEM's 17, and MEM turned those into 15 steals. Collier led with 24 (9 of 16, 2 of 5 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Bailey added 20, Filipowski 20. Q2 was theirs, 35-27, but the other 3 periods went 96-79 against them. They led by as many as 14. Hinson's -14 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ HOU 105-125 — UTA notes
UTA lost 105-125. UTA took 12 more shots (98 to 86), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to HOU's 57%, 8 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to HOU's 11 — 25 points from the stripe to their 9. UTA turned it over 11 times to HOU's 26. The glass went 36-53 against them. Markkanen led with 29 (10 of 23, 1 of 10 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Sensabaugh added 26, Collier 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 25 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 100-75 against them. Collier's -30 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs NOP 118-129 — UTA notes
UTA lost 118-129. UTA shot 50% (45 of 90) to NOP's 52%, 12 of 37 from three. Bailey led with 23 (9 of 17, 2 of 6 from three); Sensabaugh added 20, Mykhailiuk 14. Q4 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 15 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 103-88 against them. Filipowski's -20 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs NOP 105-115 — UTA notes
UTA lost 105-115. UTA took 11 more shots (96 to 85), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to NOP's 46%, 12 of 43 from three. UTA turned it over 7 times to NOP's 19. The glass went 40-58 against them. Collier led with 21 (7 of 15, 7 of 8 at the line); George added 17, Harkless 14. Q3 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 25 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 91-72 against them. Williams's -18 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 vs DEN 125-128 — UTA notes
UTA lost 125-128. UTA took 12 more shots (86 to 74), but shot 51% to DEN's 54%, 15 of 39 from three, and got to the line 26 times to DEN's 35. UTA turned it over 9 times to DEN's 15. George led with 36 (14 of 22, 4 of 9 from three); Filipowski added 19, Bailey 18. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 7 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 100-93 against them. Williams's -10 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Edgecombe at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without George (14 straight), Embiid (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Collier at 17 and Bailey at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Kessler (56 straight), Bamba (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Utah's 30 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 117 a night to Utah's 124. Call it Philadelphia 121, Utah 116.
3/05 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Hardy at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Sarr (9 straight), Gill (2 straight), Whitmore (40 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Collier at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Kessler (57 straight), Love (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 37 percent from three to Utah's 29 and the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Washington's 19. Call it Washington 119, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.
3/07 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 15 and Portis at 13 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Prince (53 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 28 and Bailey at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (58 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight), Love (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 17 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 16 times a game to Utah's 12. Call it Utah 116, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/09 vs GSW — 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 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 26 and Collier at 19 a game. Without Kessler (59 straight), Mykhailiuk (3 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Podziemski at 19 and Santos at 14 a game. Without Ste. Curry (13 straight), Moody (2 straight), Richard (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Utah 116, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.
2/22 @ GSW 117-128 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-128. DEN shot 46% (42 of 91) to GSW's 51%, 8 of 31 from three, and went to the line 29 times to GSW's 12 — 25 points from the stripe to their 11. Jokić led with 35 (11 of 21, 3 of 4 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Murray added 21, Braun 18. Q3 was theirs, 34-19, turning a 9-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 109-83 against them. Brown's -17 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs BOS 103-84 — DEN notes
DEN won 103-84. DEN shot 42% (39 of 93) to BOS's 35%, 15 of 43 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to BOS's 13. Jokić led with 30 (11 of 28, 4 of 13 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 14, Strawther 12. The hinge was Q3, 30-19: DEN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 19. DEN trailed 47-48 at the half and won the second half 56-36. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/27 @ OKC 121-127 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-127 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 42% (43 of 103) to OKC's 46%, 18 of 48 from three. DEN turned it over 17 times to OKC's 12, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. Murray led with 39 (12 of 26, 7 of 13 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Braun added 23, Jokić 23. Q1 was theirs, 33-19, but the other 4 periods went 108-88 against them. They led by as many as 16. Johnson's -25 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 vs MIN 108-117 — DEN notes
DEN lost 108-117. DEN shot 48% (41 of 85) to MIN's 54%, 6 of 22 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MIN's 19 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. Jokić led with 35 (15 of 26, 1 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Murray added 25, Hardaway Jr. 17. Q1 was theirs, 31-22, but the other 3 periods went 95-77 against them. They led by as many as 11. Hardaway Jr.'s -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ UTA 128-125 — DEN notes
DEN won 128-125. DEN shot 54% (40 of 74) to UTA's 51%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 35 times to UTA's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 22. DEN turned it over 15 times to UTA's 9, and UTA turned those into 11 steals. Murray led with 45 (13 of 19, 8 of 13 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jokić added 22, Strawther 15. The hinge was Q3, 34-26: DEN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 7. DEN trailed 66-67 at the half and won the second half 62-58. Valančiūnas was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
3/05 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (10 straight), Gordon (16 straight), Jones (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 106 a night to Denver's 116 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Denver's 34. Call it Denver 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/06 vs NYK — 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 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Murray at 28 and Jokić at 28 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight), Watson (11 straight), Gordon (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Towns at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without McBride (17 straight), Clarkson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 99 a night to Denver's 113 and the line, where Denver takes 27 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 113, Denver 112, Denver keeping it close.
3/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (10 straight), Mitchell (20 straight), Sandfort (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Murray at 30 and Jokić at 29 a game. Without Watson (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Denver's 125 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 119, Denver 110.
3/11 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (13 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver plus-3 and the defense, Houston allowing 115 a night to Denver's 125. Call it Denver 117, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
UTAAB A. Bailey
BS B. Sensabaugh
CW C. Williams
EH E. Harkless
IC I. Collier
JK J. Konchar
KF K. Filipowski
KG K. George
OT O. Tshiebwe
SM S. Mykhailiuk
DENBB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
VA Valanciunas
ZN Z. Nnaji
UTA/DEN 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
Jamal Murray's 45 points help Nuggets beat the Jazz 128-125
SALT LAKE CITY -- — Jamal Murray scored 45 points and made the go-ahead free throws with 31.8 seconds remaining to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the depleted Utah Jazz 128-125 on Monday night.
Utah's Keyonte George scored 36 points, but was denied two free throws that could have given the Jazz the lead on what would have been Nikola Jokic 's sixth foul with 16.3 seconds remaining — a shooting foul that was reversed to a blocked shot after a lengthy review.
Jokic, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds, made two free throws with 6.1 seconds left and George missed a last-second 3-pointer as the Nuggets escaped with the win.
Cam Johnson was a late scratch with a hurt ankle, but Julian Strawther scored 15 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 13 for Denver.
With Jokic on the bench and most of his teammates lacking energy in the second game of a back to back, Murray made five 3s and scored 18 points in the third quarter to push the Nuggets to a 100-93 lead entering the fourth. Murray was 13 of 19 from the field and had eight 3s along with seven turnovers.
George, in his second game back after missing three weeks to ankle sprains, matched Murray's shot-making in 30 minutes of action on 14-for-22 shooting, with four 3s. His dunk with 2:13 left gave Utah a 122-118 lead.
Lauri Markkanen and most of Utah's starters and rotation regulars have been shelved due to injury, but the Jazz never let the Nuggets' lead reach double figures.
Kyle Filipowski scored 19 points and Ace Bailey had 18 for the Jazz, who have lost six straight.
Denver had lost three of four, including a 117-108 loss to Minnesota on Sunday night and the consecutive games seemed to take a toll.
Up next Denver: Hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.