New Look Jazz Stun Nuggets In Season Opener
Oct 19, 2022, 9:34 PM | Updated: Nov 7, 2022, 2:19 pm
Malik beasley of the Utah Jazz shoots against the Denver Nuggets (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Collin Sexton scored 20 points off the bench and the Utah Jazz stunned the Denver Nuggets with a 123-102 victory to open the season.
Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Olynyk made up the Jazz starting lineup.
The Nuggets started Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Nikola Jokic.
First Quarter
The Nuggets jumped out to an early lead thanks to a slew of Jazz turnovers and poor transition defense.
However, the Jazz got hot from the three-point line to keep the game close led by Kelly Olynyk who led the team with eight points.
The @utahjazz started the season on 🔥 from 3⃣#TakeNote https://t.co/XKVrawDRAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 20, 2022
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with eight points.
After one the Jazz led the Nuggets 37-30.
Second Quarter
The Jazz jumped on the Nuggets to start the second quarter extending their lead to as much as 20 as they outrebounded and outexecuted Denver.
Jarred Vanderbilt recorded 11 first half rebounds while Rudy Gay scored 10 second quarter.
The @utahjazz continued their hot streak into the second quarter while 🔒 down the @nuggets.#TakeNote https://t.co/FuU1L3ujj2
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 20, 2022
The Jazz bench outscored the Nuggets 35-9 in the first half as the Nuggets struggled to score with Nikola Jokic off the floor.
At the half the Jazz led the Nuggets 75-53.
Third Quarter
The Nuggets came out with more aggression in the third quarter putting Jarred Vanderbilt and Kelly Olynyk into early foul trouble.
The Jazz managed just six points through the first seven minutes of the half as Denver trimmed the 24 point lead to just 10 midway through the period.
The @utahjazz looked really good in the first half of their season opener.#TakeNote https://t.co/PTLnHozTBl
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 20, 2022
Despite 19 points in the third quarter, the Jazz led the Nuggets 94-80 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Nuggets trimmed the Jazz lead to seven with 5:35 left to play, but back-to-back threes from Rudy Gay and Malik Beasley rebuilt the lead to 13 over the next two possessions.
The Jazz iced the game behind a strong sequence from Collin Sexton, knocking down a mid-range jumper and drawing an offensive foul on the other end in the final two and a half minutes of the game.
The Jazz recorded their first win of the season with a 123-102 victory over the Nuggets.
