Jazz Game Six Against Nuggets Rescheduled For Sunday

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz will return to the basketball court on Sunday in their game six matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Game six was originally scheduled for Thursday, but the league postponed the game after the Milwaukee Bucks attempted to forfeit their Wednesday meeting with the Orlando Magic.

Instead, the league postponed games set for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Michele Roberts, the executive director of the NBA Players Association said the players are returning to the floor after new commitments to social justice were made by team owners league-wide.

The Jazz own a 3-2 series lead in the best of seven series but will need to perform better in their game six matchup to end the Nuggets season. The game will tip-off at 6:30 pm MT on TNT.

According to the NBA app, the @UtahJazz and Denver Nuggets will play game six on Sunday at 6:30 pm MT. pic.twitter.com/3qDj1knLJg

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 28, 2020

The Jazz practiced Friday, though players were excused from media obligations in light of the tumultuous nature of the previous days.

Jazz Must Contain Jamal Murray in Game Six

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has been a thorn in the side of the Jazz defense throughout the series. Murray is averaging 30.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds while shooting a staggering 55 percent from the floor, and 52 percent from the three-point line, and has yet to miss from the free-throw line.

Murray scored 42 points in the Jazz game five loss, including 33 second-half points to erase a 15 point third quarter lead.

The Denver Nuggets forced a game six after a bad @UtahJazz second half performance. #TakeNote https://t.co/5y6WxTX62F

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 26, 2020

Meanwhile, center Nikola Jokic got off to a hot start against the Jazz in game five. Jokic scored 21 points in the first quarter on a perfect 8-8 shooting display, including 5-5 from the three-point line.

The Jazz built multiple double-digit leads against the Nuggets but were unable to maintain their advantage throughout the game.

Jazz Must Get More From Frontcourt

While it takes a full team effort to lose a 15 point lead in 21 minutes on the floor, the Jazz needed a climb in production from their starting frontcourt specifically. All-Star center Rudy Gobert scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but was just 4-9 from the floor.

Forwards Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale had product first halves before disappearing in the team’s second-half loss.

Joe Ingles and Royce O'Neale combined for 0 points, 0-1 FG, 1 rebound, 2 fouls and 2 turnovers in the fourth quarter in 17+ combined minutes.

You can't just get nothing from those guys in a 4 point game going into the fourth quarter.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 26, 2020

In the fourth quarter alone, Ingles and O’Neale combined to add zero points, zero assists, one rebound, two fouls, and two turnovers in 17 total minutes.

O’Neale’s second half was particularly detrimental for the Jazz, as the defensive-minded forward recorded just two points, three rebounds, five personal fouls, and four turnovers in 19 second-half minutes. The Jazz were outscored by 23 while O’Neale was on the floor.

The NBA playoffs will resume Saturday when the Bucks and Magic make up their game five absence at 1:30 pm MT.

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