Jazz Battle Nuggets For Northwest Division Lead
Jan 29, 2020, 9:56 PM | Updated: Jan 30, 2020, 8:27 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz are scheduled to face the Denver Nuggets in a showdown for first place in the NBA’s Northwest Division.
The Jazz travel to the Pepsi Center to take on the Nuggets on Thursday, January 30.
This will be the first meeting between Utah and Denver in the 2019-20 season.
The Jazz won the 2018-19 season series 3-1 including three straight victories after dropping the first meeting of the season.
What a win for the #utahjazz and what a close for Donovan Mitchell. I said it last time they played and I'll say it again. I'm all in for a Jazz/Nuggets playoff series. #nba #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/eb2zHzCMsu
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) March 1, 2019
What A Win Means
The winner of Thursday’s game takes control of the Northwest Divison with a few games remaining until the NBA All-Star break.
With identical records entering the game, the winner of Thursday’s battle will own first place in the division.
Utah comes to Denver with a 32-15 record including 14-11 on the road.
The Nuggets welcome the Jazz with a 32-15 overall record including 18-6 at the Pepsi Center.
Denver has won 6 of its last 10 games but is fresh off a 104-96 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, January 28.
⬆️⬆️⬆️
🆙🆙🆙(📺: @AltitudeTV) pic.twitter.com/1j7pq1w7mh
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 29, 2020
The Joker
Denver is led by 2019 First Team All-NBA center Nikola Jokić or “The Joker” as his fans call him.
Jokić leads the Nuggets in points, rebounds, and assists per game this season.
The Joker comes through in the clutch again!!
The game-winner with 7.9 seconds left!!#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/bOHsxArtiM
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 9, 2020
The Denver big man has posted an average of 19.8 points, 10.1 boards, and 6.5 assists per contest during the first 47 games of the season.
He is shooting 50.7 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from three, and 80 percent on free throws.
JOKIC HIT 'EM WITH THE BEHIND-THE-BACK TWICE 🤭 pic.twitter.com/0twul0haOy
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2019
Injury Report
Utah arrives in Denver to play a depleted Nuggets squad. Three of Denver’s players are list as “OUT” for the meeting with Utah.
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray won’t play against the Jazz due to a left ankle sprain.
Former Jazzman and Nuggets forward Paul Millsap is out of the lineup with a left knee contusion/sprain.
Denver center Mason Plumless won’t suit up against Utah due to a foot injury.
Millsap, Murray and Plumlee out for tomorrow’s game against Utah.
— Denver Stiffs (@denverstiffs) January 29, 2020
Thank You, Denver
Jazz fans can say “thank you” to the Denver Nuggets front office for Jazz cornerstone players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
Great moments of the @UtahJazz last decade.
The Denver Nuggets gift wrap franchise cornerstones Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell to the Jazz in separate draft nights. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/aSCxwfY2fz
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2019
Gobert was selected by the Nuggets with 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Jazz on draft night in exchange for a second-round pick and cash considerations.
Jazz officially acquire Rudy Gobert via trade. #JazzDraft2013
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 28, 2013
Mitchell was drafted by the Nuggets with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was traded to Utah in exchange for the 24th pick (Tyler Lydon) and forward Trey Lyles.
#Nuggets will take Donovan Mitchell and will trade him to the Utah Jazz
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) June 23, 2017
Up Next
The Jazz play the Nuggets three more before the end of the regular season.
The next meeting between the two teams comes when Utah hosts Denver on Wednesday, February 5 at 8 p.m. (MDT).
Utah plays once more in the Mile High City on Sunday, April 5 at 4 p.m. (MDT).
The Jazz host the Nuggets in the regular-season finale on Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. (MDT). That game will be televised on TNT.
Before those games, Utah and Denver tip-off for the first meeting of the season on Thursday, January 30 at 8:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on TNT and 97.5 FM.
