Jazz Cool Off After Hot Start, Fall On Road To Nuggets
Oct 28, 2022, 9:19 PM | Updated: 9:25 pm
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz cooled off on offense after a hot start and fell on the road to a divisional opponent in the Denver Nuggets.
Jazz vs. Nuggets
The Nuggets hosted the Jazz at Ball Arena on Friday, October 28. Denver looked to avenge its season-opening loss to the Jazz in Salt Lake City.
Utah lost to Denver, 117-101.
final from Denver #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/vkKtI4LfgI
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 29, 2022
First Quarter
The Jazz started the night by connecting on four attempts from behind the arc.
Kelly Olynyk, Mike Conley, and Lauri Markkanen got things started for Utah, including two triples by the Finnish forward.
However, after Utah’s quick start, the Denver responded with an 18-2 run to build a double-digit lead.
The Jazz cut the Nuggets’ 16-point lead down to 10 points at the end of the quarter.
Denver led Utah, 35-25, after the opening 12 minutes of game time.
ππ₯ππππ¬ π‘ππππ§ πππ©π#StartingLineup | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/z4rQe2pcZo
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 29, 2022
The @utahjazz open the game 3/4 from downtown to take an early 9-3 lead over the @nuggets. #TakeNote #UTAvsDEN pic.twitter.com/FZi1x7nLKE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
Strong start from beyond the arc in the 303. π₯π₯π₯#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN https://t.co/0yR9QeBlNl
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
The @nuggets counter the strong start from the @utahjazz and are currently on a 15-2 run. #TakeNote #UTAvsDEN pic.twitter.com/5MpKXZfliG
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
After leading by six points early in the contest, the @utahjazz end the first quarter trailing the @nuggets by 10 points.
Denver owns a 35-25 lead.@MarkkanenLauri leads the Jazz with nine points.
Michael Porter Jr. has 11 for the Denver.#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN
π·: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/wwxaxrbSQG— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
Second Quarter
During the final 12 minutes of the first half, the Jazz continued to struggle to keep pace the Nuggets. Utah cut Denver’s lead down to single-digits before the Nuggets responded with another big run to stretch their lead.
Denver ended up winning the quarter by three points thanks for big first half play from Michael Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland, who combined for 27 points.
The Jazz trailed, 63-50, at the break.
Markkanen had a team-high 11 points during the opening 24 minutes of action.
The @utahjazz trimmed Denver's lead down to six points before the @nuggets went on a 12-4 run and forced a timeout by Will Hardy.
47-33 Nuggets lead.
9:17 2Q#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN pic.twitter.com/jeSgndbhA9
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
.@JVando with the left hand hammer. πͺ#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN https://t.co/4apVwYxtJA
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
πͺ£ No. 1 for the rookie from @KUHoops, @youngoch. #TakeNote #UTAvsDEN https://t.co/Or6hniDzlU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
The Jazz have work to do after the break.
HALFTIME @utahjazz 50 @nuggets 63 @MarkkanenLauri leads Utah with 11 points.
MPJ and Bones Hyland have combined for 27 points to lead Denver.#TakeNote #UTAvsDENpic.twitter.com/ul4aaUrauv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
πͺ πͺ β«οΈβ«οΈ#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/AWfgoifgBl
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 29, 2022
Third Quarter
The Jazz won the third quarter by two points thanks to an impressive scoring run by Collin Sexton. The guard from Alabama scored his first 13 points of the game during the opening 12 minutes of the second half. Sexton scored 13 of Utah’s final 16 points in the quarter.
The Jazz went into the final quarter trailing by 11 points, 89-78.
The @utahjazz have cooled off from distance…now 8-29 for 27.6 percent.
84-67 Nuggets lead with 2:01 left in the third quarter.#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN https://t.co/e2IymdCUKV
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
.@CollinSexton02 hits a tough step back triple. π#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN https://t.co/0YQezUc6Fr
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
Final 12 minutes coming up. Can the Jazz come back?
End 3Q @utahjazz 78@nuggets 89#TakeNote #UTAvsDENpic.twitter.com/ey1MJ9t5sW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
Fourth Quarter
The Nuggets put the Jazz away with an impressive start to the fourth quarter. Denver went on a 19-1 run to open the final 12 minutes of action.
Midway through the quarter, Will Hardy pulled all of Utah’s starters and went deep into the team’s second unit.
Tough start to the final quarter for the @utahjazz. The @nuggets go on a 19-1 run to open the fourth and shut down any comeback attempt by the Jazz.#TakeNote #UTAvsDEN pic.twitter.com/yc1s0mh8CF
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 29, 2022
The Numbers
Utah finished the game shooting 41.8 percent overall and 25.6 percent from three. Denver shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 45.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The Jazz had only three players score in double figures. Markkanen led Utah with 17 points on 7-14 field goals. Conley added 14 and Sexton had 13 off the bench.
Hyland led Denver with 26 points off the bench. Porter Jr. had 22 points to carry the Nuggets’ starting lineup. Nikola Jokic had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Up Next
With the loss, the Jazz dropped to a 4-2 record this season, including 2-2 on the road.
Utah’s next game is is the first of back-to-back home games against the Memphis Grizzlies. The first contest takes place on Saturday, October 29 at 7 p.m. (MDT). The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet,Β NBA League Pass, andΒ KSL Sports Zone.