Butler Up And Down As Jazz Win To Close Out Summer League

SALT LAKE CITY – Denver played without their two leading scorers as Jared Butler dropped 15 points and six assists in a win over the Nuggets.

The Jazz (2-2) closed out their NBA 2k23 Las Vegas Summer League schedule with a 6 p.m. (MST) tipoff against the Denver Nuggets (2-2). Each team was looking to closeout summer league on a high note along with an above .500 record.

Utah struggled out of the gate, allowing Denver to build a 20-10 advantage about eight minutes into the game. Three’s from two-way rookie Johnny Juzang and second-year guard Jared Butler allowed the Jazz to cut the deficit to two after one quarter.

top of the 🔑
for 3️⃣#TakeNote | @j_hooper11 pic.twitter.com/2Clk2YBvfY

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 18, 2022

The Jazz stormed out to a 19-2 run to open the second quarter. Five Jazz players hit a three during the run as Utah held Denver scoreless for 5:45 between layups.

The Nuggets went to a more fast paced offense out of a timeout, scoring six quick points in less than a minute to cut the Jazz lead to nine.

Utah held Denver to 0-6 shooting from beyond the arc while hitting 9-24 from deep on their way to a 44-32 halftime advantage.

Butler led all players in scoring with 10 first half points on an inefficient 3-8 shooting. Despite the scoring, Butler spent much of the first half looking rushed and struggled to put his teammates in a position to succeed with his passes.

you can call him the 𝙹𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝙶𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 🇯🇲#TakeNote | @kxng_alpha pic.twitter.com/fzfnfvKw56

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 18, 2022

Denver turned the intensity up a notch in the third quarter as they fought to comeback on the back of Adonis Arms and his 13 third quarter points.

Near the end of the quarter, Jazz forward Bruno Caboclo broke loose for a fast break alley-oop that got the remaining fans on their feet.

now that's nice ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛) 👉 #TakeNote | @bruno_caboclo pic.twitter.com/NFv3NrDYb2

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 18, 2022

Utah shot near 30 percent from the field until a hot stretch to close the third bumped them up to 41 percent. Justin Robinson hit a three with time running down, allowing Utah to take a double digit advantage into the final quarter, 64-54.

In the fourth, an already ugly game deteriorated as shooting fell off defensive rotations were late or non-existent.

With more of a pick-up style appearance, Butler and Kofi Cockburn connected late in the game for a highlight reel lob dunk that served as the nail in the coffin, putting Utah in front by 14 with less than two minutes left.

just like it was drawn up 🤌#TakeNote | @kxng_alpha pic.twitter.com/NBEcBIu5Gw

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 18, 2022

Three players scored in double-digits for the Jazz with Butler pacing the team at 15 points and six assists. Justin Robinson chipped in 12 points and James Palmer Jr. contributed 10. Juzang added nine points and four players each scored seven.

Utah finishes the 2k23 NBA Summer League with a 3-2 record

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