Jazz Comeback Attempt Falls Short, 11-Game Winning Streak Snapped By Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz lost their first game in 25 days, falling to the Denver Nuggets 128-117 on Sunday afternoon in the Mile High City.

Seven Utah Jazz players scored in double figures, while the Denver Nuggets had six players. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 29 points and 4 rebounds, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson scored 13 points apiece. Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Royce O’Neale each had 12 points. Joe Ingles chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Nikola Jokic tied a career-high 47 points, including 33 in the first half. He also had 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Will Barton contributed 18 points, Jamal Murray had 16.

Utah’s 11-game winning streak came to an end.

The streak is over

The @utahjazz fall to the @nuggets 128-117.

Bogdanovic has 29 to lead the Jazz. Jokic matches a career high with 47.

Back at it Tuesday against the Pistons in Utah. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/ZgjQQu5c9l

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Nuggets Miss Just Two Threes In First Half

The Nuggets took a 79-54 halftime lead over the Jazz as Nikola Jokic scored 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc. Denver made 15 of their 17 attempts from the three-point line for 88 percent in the first 24 minutes. They also made 67 percent of their field goals.

Utah made 42 percent of their field goals, while knocking down 45 percent of their three-pointers.

Both teams started out making seven straight threes combined. The Jazz made their first three, coming from Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic and Donovan Mitchell.

The Nuggets made their first seven with three from Jokic, two from Will Barton and one from Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray. At the halftime break, three players for Denver scored in double figures. Other than 33 from Jokic, Barton had 15 points and Murray added 10 points.

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 3-for-5 from the perimeter. He was the only Jazz player to score in double figures. Donovan Mitchell returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to being in concussion protocol. He recorded 7 points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first half.

The @utahjazz give up 79 first half points to the @nuggets.

Nuggets are shooting 15-17 from the three-point line, and lead the Jazz by 26, 79-53.

Nikola Jokic has 33 points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/YtFyEuMnNf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Jazz Comeback Falls Short Against Nuggets

After trailing by as much as 27 points in the game, the Jazz cut the Nuggets’ lead to 12 points at the end of the third quarter. Utah outscored Denver 37-24 in the third quarter. It was a wide spread of scorers for the Jazz in the third quarter with Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson each scoring six points, all made two three-pointers. Nikola Jokic added 10 third quarter points to his 43 points after scoring 33 in the first half.

Denver stretched their lead out to 17 midway through the fourth quarter as they outscored the Jazz 14-9 through the first 6:33 of the final period. Utah ran out of gas at that point.

At the end of three quarters the @utahjazz trail the @Nuggets 103-91.

Bojan Bogdanovic up to 23 points for the game. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RcKzzjYmvP

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

The Jazz dropped their record to 15-5 on the season. After the Los Angeles Clippers beat the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon, the Jazz dropped to second place in the Western Conference standings.

They will return home for a quick game with the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, February 2. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.