Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a commanding 129-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The win marked Denver’s first home victory of the season and improved their record to 3-3, while Utah remains winless at 0-6.
Jokic finished the game with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. Michael Porter Jr. also contributed significantly, scoring 20 points, while Julian Strawther and Christian Braun added 19 and 17 points, respectively. The Nuggets took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 34-19.
Utah’s effort was led by Walker Kessler, who posted 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Johnny Juzang, who added 17 points. However, the Jazz struggled offensively, committing 24 turnovers that led to 39 points for Denver.
In the first half, Utah managed to keep the game competitive but fell behind after the Nuggets executed a 14-0 run. This run helped Denver regain a comfortable lead, ending the half with a score of 65-56.
Injuries impacted both teams, with the Nuggets missing Jamal Murray, who remains in concussion protocol. Russell Westbrook started in his place. Utah had to rely on rookies Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski due to the absence of key players Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks.
