Defense struts its stuff in win
NUGGETS 107, JAZZ 83
the Two Nuggets to days an defending before ice-cold held Christmas, the champions performance sharpshooting than 24 from hours long before range. that, Less Denver handled a Portland team without star point guard Damian Lillard.
In Tuesday night’s brief return to the Pepsi Center, Denver took care of a Utah team that has been offensively challenged for much of the season in a 107-83 victory.
The Jazz, which entered Tuesday ranked 23rd in the NBA in scoring offense, shot 32.5 percent from the floor — its second-worst performance from the field this season — as the Nuggets (19-15) recorded their first win over their Northwest Division rival. The win was Denver’s third straight and pushed its home record to 12-3.
“It’s been amazing. I just give our players a lot of credit,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Because to do it three games in a row, to defend at that kind of level, is outstanding.”
The Nuggets held the Jazz (15-20) under 30 percent from the floor in the first half to build a double-digit lead they never relinquished. Denver most notably curtailed rookie standout and Jazz leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 13 points (six in the fourth quarter when the outcome was all but decided) on 5-of-10 shooting.
Denver’s defensive performance has become a trend, as it entered the game ranked third in the NBA in defensive efficiency (102.5 points per 100 possessions) over its past 10 games. The Nuggets most recently limited Golden State to 3-of-27 from 3-point distance after holding Portland to 85 points, the third-lowest total for a Denver opponent this season. A starting lineup shift has largely sparked the improvement, with Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee teaming up on the frontcourt, Wilson Chandler locking down the wing and Gary Harris maintaining his stout play on the perimeter.
The Nuggets’ offense, meanwhile, was balanced. Jamal Murray scored 13 of his 22 points in the first quarter to go along with eight rebounds.
Harris totaled 15 points and five assists, while Chandler scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half and added seven rebounds. Jokic totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists before being ejected early in the fourth quarter after being called for a flagrant 2 foul. Trey Lyles narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Denver also committed just 10 turnovers after surrendering an average of 20 giveaways for 29.5 points over its two losses in Salt Lake City this season.
“When we value the ball like that and we defend the way we’re defending, I don’t think there’s a team in this league that we cannot beat,” Malone said.
The Nuggets’ advantage quickly grew to 21 points in the second half, when Plumlee followed a Jokic spin and finish with a reverse dunk to make the score 62-41. When Emmanuel Mudiay, back from a four-game absence with a sprained ankle, converted a fourpoint play and sank another 3 on the next possession, the lead reached a game-high 24 points.
Next up for Denver is a Wednesday trip to Minnesota. The meeting between division foes comes a week after a Nuggets’ home loss to the Timberwolves, a game in which Denver’s defense became “nonexistent” in the fourth quarter as Minnesota rallied for a 112-104 victory.
Since that defeat, the Nuggets have won three consecutive games — largely thanks to their play on that end of the floor.
“I think the team’s confidence is at a season high right now,” Lyles said. “I think tomorrow we’ll be able to show what we’re capable of on back-to-backs and show that last weekend wasn’t a fluke.”