- Match Date: Wednesday, February 05, 2020
- What Time: 9:00 PM (ET)
- Where Is It Being Played: Vivint Smart Home Arena
- TV Channel: ALT, SNRM
The seven man Denver Nuggets (36-16) defeat the Utah Jazz (32-18) on the second night of a back to back 98-95 behind Jokic's 30/21/9.
It’s a battle between the top two teams in the Northwest Division on the hardwood in the Beehive State. The Denver Nuggets are on the road as they make the trip to face the Utah Jazz Wednesday night. Denver was at home against Portland Tuesday night. The Nuggets fell 128-123 in overtime on the road to the Pistons Sunday afternoon in their previous contest. Utah was dropped 124-107 at Portland Saturday night in their last game. The Jazz owns a 115-81 advantage in the all-time regular season series but the Nuggets took a 106-100 home win in the first meeting this season January 30.
Denver Nuggets Play Second Game of Back to Back
Denver was in action at home against Portland so they are logging the second game of a back to back situation here. The Nuggets entered Tuesday leading the Northwest Division by 1.5 games over the Jazz. In the Western Conference playoff race, Denver stood third, four games behind the Lakers for the top seed. The Nuggets are 15-10 on the road this year. In those games, the team scores an average of 110.8 ppg while allowing 109.3 ppg in those contests. Denver is a stellar 7-2 in the second game of back to back situations with a +3.2 ppg scoring margin this season. Against Northwest Division teams, the Nuggets are a perfect 7-0 as they put up 107.7 points a game while allowing 99.9 ppg in those games.
The Nuggets enter this contest 19th in the league by averaging 109.8 points per game on the year. Denver is 18th in rebounding by collecting 44.9 boards per night and 3rd in assists by dishing out 26.3 dimes a night. The Nuggets are 5th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 106.5 points per contest this season. Jamal Murray is second on the team with 17.6 points plus 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest this season. Nikola Jokic contributes 20.2 points, 10 rebounds and 6.7 assists a night. Will Barton (15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds), Gary Harris (10.5 points), Paul Millsap (11.9 points) and Malik Beasley are solid contributors. Jerami Grant (11.2 points), Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris, Michael Porter Jr. and Juan Hernangomez are key bench pieces for Mike Malone’s group. Denver is tied for 13th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 46.1 percent from the floor as a team this season. The Nuggets are 24th in the league in threes per game as they knock 10.7 triples per contest while the team is 18th in three-point shooting by hitting 35 percent from beyond the arc. Millsap (knee) remains out with no timetable for return while Murray is out for the “foreseeable future” after injuring his ankle against the Hornets January 15. Plumlee is dealing with a foot injury that could keep him out two to four weeks.
Utah Jazz Look to Bounce Back After Getting a Breather
Utah suffered their fourth straight loss after their hot stretch as they were unable to hang with Portland on the road in their fourth game in six nights. The Jazz entered Tuesday second in the Northwest Division, 1.5 games behind the Nuggets. In the Western Conference playoff picture, the team stands fourth, 5.5 games behind the Lakers for the top spot. Utah was up one after the opening quarter but was outscored 30-19 in the second to trail by 10 at the half. The Jazz got within two in the third quarter but a 13-0 run by the Trail Blazers sealed their fate. Utah shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 18 of 41 from three-point range, but allowed Portland to shoot 51.1 percent in the contest. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 25 points in the loss.
The Jazz comes into this game 16th in the league in scoring offense with 111.1 points per game this season. Utah is 15th in rebounding by pulling down 45.3 boards per night while standing 26th by dishing out 22.1 assists a night. Utah is eighth in the league in scoring defense as they allow 107 points per contest. Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz with 24.6 points plus 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest this season. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 21.2 points per contest while Mike Conley (12.9 points, 4.1 assists) and Rudy Gobert (15.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, two blocks) are solid contributors. Emmanuel Mudiay, Joe Ingles (10.4 points, 4.1 boards, five assists), Royce O’Neale, Jordan Clarkson, Tony Bradley and Georges Niang are important pieces for coach Quin Snyder. Utah is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, which is 5th in the league in field goal percentage. The Jazz knock down an average of 13.1 triples per game, which is 6th in the league, and stand first in three-point field goal percentage by knocking down 38.7 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Denver Nuggets Play Second Game of Back to Back
Denver was in action at home against Portland so they are logging the second game of a back to back situation here. The Nuggets entered Tuesday leading the Northwest Division by 1.5 games over the Jazz. In the Western Conference playoff race, Denver stood third, four games behind the Lakers for the top seed. The Nuggets are 15-10 on the road this year. In those games, the team scores an average of 110.8 ppg while allowing 109.3 ppg in those contests. Denver is a stellar 7-2 in the second game of back to back situations with a +3.2 ppg scoring margin this season. Against Northwest Division teams, the Nuggets are a perfect 7-0 as they put up 107.7 points a game while allowing 99.9 ppg in those games.
The Nuggets enter this contest 19th in the league by averaging 109.8 points per game on the year. Denver is 18th in rebounding by collecting 44.9 boards per night and 3rd in assists by dishing out 26.3 dimes a night. The Nuggets are 5th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 106.5 points per contest this season. Jamal Murray is second on the team with 17.6 points plus 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest this season. Nikola Jokic contributes 20.2 points, 10 rebounds and 6.7 assists a night. Will Barton (15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds), Gary Harris (10.5 points), Paul Millsap (11.9 points) and Malik Beasley are solid contributors. Jerami Grant (11.2 points), Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris, Michael Porter Jr. and Juan Hernangomez are key bench pieces for Mike Malone’s group. Denver is tied for 13th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 46.1 percent from the floor as a team this season. The Nuggets are 24th in the league in threes per game as they knock 10.7 triples per contest while the team is 18th in three-point shooting by hitting 35 percent from beyond the arc. Millsap (knee) remains out with no timetable for return while Murray is out for the “foreseeable future” after injuring his ankle against the Hornets January 15. Plumlee is dealing with a foot injury that could keep him out two to four weeks.
Utah Jazz Look to Bounce Back After Getting a Breather
Utah suffered their fourth straight loss after their hot stretch as they were unable to hang with Portland on the road in their fourth game in six nights. The Jazz entered Tuesday second in the Northwest Division, 1.5 games behind the Nuggets. In the Western Conference playoff picture, the team stands fourth, 5.5 games behind the Lakers for the top spot. Utah was up one after the opening quarter but was outscored 30-19 in the second to trail by 10 at the half. The Jazz got within two in the third quarter but a 13-0 run by the Trail Blazers sealed their fate. Utah shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 18 of 41 from three-point range, but allowed Portland to shoot 51.1 percent in the contest. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 25 points in the loss.
The Jazz comes into this game 16th in the league in scoring offense with 111.1 points per game this season. Utah is 15th in rebounding by pulling down 45.3 boards per night while standing 26th by dishing out 22.1 assists a night. Utah is eighth in the league in scoring defense as they allow 107 points per contest. Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz with 24.6 points plus 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest this season. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 21.2 points per contest while Mike Conley (12.9 points, 4.1 assists) and Rudy Gobert (15.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, two blocks) are solid contributors. Emmanuel Mudiay, Joe Ingles (10.4 points, 4.1 boards, five assists), Royce O’Neale, Jordan Clarkson, Tony Bradley and Georges Niang are important pieces for coach Quin Snyder. Utah is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, which is 5th in the league in field goal percentage. The Jazz knock down an average of 13.1 triples per game, which is 6th in the league, and stand first in three-point field goal percentage by knocking down 38.7 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
