The Utah Jazz visit the Denver Nuggets on Monday, December 22, at 7:00 PM ET at Ball Arena. Utah enters on a 2-game losing streak, while Denver looks to rebound from a 1-game skid.
The teams met once this season, with the Nuggets taking a 134-117 victory on November 24. Utah sits at 10-17, and Denver leads the Northwest Division with a 20-7 record.
Utah will be without Walker Kessler (left shoulder), Kevin Love (rest), Georges Niang (left foot), and multiple two-way players including Elijah Harkless, John Tonje, and Oscar Tshiebwe. Lauri Markkanen is listed as questionable with a right groin issue.
Denver is missing Christian Braun (left ankle) and Aaron Gordon (right hamstring), while Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones are out as two-way players. Peyton Watson is questionable with a right trunk contusion.
Markkanen has led Utah with 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while Keyonte George averages 24.0 points and 6.9 assists. Jusuf Nurkic adds 8.5 points and 9.4 rebounds in 25 games.
Denver’s offense is led by Nikola Jokic, who averages 29.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, while Jamal Murray contributes 24.8 points and 6.7 assists. Aaron Gordon is off to a strong start in limited action with 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Recent form highlights tight contests for both teams, including Utah’s 128-127 overtime loss to the Magic and Denver’s 115-101 defeat to the Rockets.
