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Utah Jazz Lose Final Game Of 2024 To Denver Nuggets

Dec 30, 2024, 5:54 PM | Updated: Jan 2, 2025, 2:22 pm

Tanner Tripp's Profile Picture

BY TANNER TRIPP


KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY- The Utah Jazz played their last game of 2024, closing out the year at Delta Center against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Jazz saw the return of Keyonte George after missing four games with an ankle injury.

The first half as a whole was fast-paced and saw both the Jazz and the Nuggets score a lot of points. Nikola Jokic finished the first frame with nine points, but the Jazz hung right with them in the first quarter thanks to 13 early points from Jordan Clarkson, who led all scorers after one.

Clarkson dropped in two three-points as a part of his scorching start. Johnny Juzang also added eight points of his own and was Utah’s biggest positive of the quarter with a +12 in the +/- column.

Utah and Denver remained neck and neck throughout the second quarter, but the Jazz were able to squeeze out a small advantage, entering the halftime break up 66-64. The play of the second quarter for the Jazz came with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter. Jamal Murray was being guarded by Isaiah Collier at the top of the paint beyond the three-point line. DeAndre Jordan set a screen on Collier, forcing Kyle Filipowski to pick up Murray. Collier fought through the screen, and suddenly Jamal Murray found himself being double-teamed.

Filipowski poked the ball out of Murray’s hands and Isaiah Collier was off to the races. He picked up the loose ball around half-court and took it uncontested all the way to the hoop for the slam.

The Denver Nuggets went on a run to open the second half and would go on to outscore the Utah Jazz by 11 in the frame.

Despite the deficit, the Jazz were able to take advantage of some Nikola Jokic bench minutes at the beginning of the fourth quarter. A pair of three-pointers from Cody Williams helped Utah climb to within two points, but turnovers from the Jazz stacked up and Denver would end up winning 132-121.

Both Nikola Jokic (36 pts, 22 reb, 11 ast) and Russell Westbrook (16 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) ended the night with triple-doubles. Denver also took advantage of Utah’s forfeited possessions, scoring 21 points off of turnovers.

Pregame

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

 

Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.

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Utah Jazz Lose Final Game Of 2024 To Denver Nuggets