SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz rookie Jared Butler gave the team a spark in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets with a personal mini run on Wednesday.

With the Jazz trailing 54-50 with under four minutes remaining in the first half, Jared Butler started attacking the basket and scored his first layup of the game. Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris hit a three-pointer before Butler attacked the basket in back-to-back trips down the floor and finished with layups on both occasions.

Bojan Bogdanovic hit a midrange jumper after Butler’s little run to give the Jazz the lead momentarily. Denver had a 61-60 lead at halftime. Butler had six points at the break in 16 minutes on the floor. Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 11 points in the first 24 minutes.

Brynn Forbes led the Nuggets with 13 points, while Davian Reed and Monte Morris each posted 11 points. The Nuggets were without the reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and forward Aaron Gordon with injuries, but Denver still had more available players than Utah.

Rook with the green light 🚦#TakeNote | @J_Hooper11 pic.twitter.com/7Mairo24OC

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2022

Jared Butler Helping Shorthanded Jazz Against Nuggets

Donovan Mitchell missed his eighth straight game with a concussion while Rudy Gobert missed his fifth straight game with a calf strain.

In addition to Gobert and Mitchell who haven’t shared the floor since the team’s January 17 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will be missing several other key contributors on the roster.

This will be the Jazz first game without Joe Ingles after the veteran star tore his ACL in the team’s Sunday night loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Reserve center Hassan Whiteside also missed tonight’s game with a lower back strain, as well as Danuel House Jr. who is in COVID protocol. Jordan Clarkson was out with knee soreness.

The Jazz and Nuggets game can be seen on ESPN or AT&T SportsNet and heard on The Zone Sports Network.

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