Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz 122-103 on Wednesday night. The victory propelled Denver to a 10-7 record while the Jazz slipped to 4-14.
Jokic’s explosive start powered the Nuggets early. He scored 19 points in the first quarter alone, going 8-of-10 from the field. His scoring spree helped Denver recover from an early 12-point deficit and gave the Nuggets a crucial lead.
Jamal Murray added 22 points, eight assists, and four steals in the win, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Christian Braun was another key contributor, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds.
For the Jazz, Collin Sexton led the charge with 26 points, while Keyonte George added 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Walker Kessler also had a solid outing, recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. However, Utah was without Lauri Markkanen and John Collins due to injury.
Denver’s defense was key to the win. The Nuggets capitalized on Utah’s mistakes, scoring 28 points off 18 turnovers. Denver also excelled in transition, tallying 33 fast-break points, many of which came as a result of defensive rebounds and turnovers.
For Utah, Micah Potter and Svi Mykhailiuk made their first starts of the season. They combined for 16 points, with Potter grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds. However, the Jazz’s offense struggled, especially in the second and third quarters when they were held to just two baskets during an eight-minute stretch.
The Nuggets shot 54.8% from the field and made 11-of-33 from three-point range. They also finished 19-of-23 from the free-throw line, with Jokic going 2-of-3 in the final minutes to help seal the win.
On the other hand, the Jazz shot 42.2% overall, including just 37.2% from beyond the arc. They struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 61.1% of their attempts.
