Jokic, Nuggets Torch Jazz In First Half From Three-Point Line

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets torched the Utah Jazz in the first half from the three-point line on Sunday in the Mile High City.

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.

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

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 Jazz will return home for one game on Tuesday, February 2 against the Detroit Pistons before hitting the road for three straight.