The Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz 122-103 on Wednesday night, bouncing back reasonably well from Monday’s ugly showing.

Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. He had 19 points in the first quarter, keeping the Nuggets in the game which their defense struggled mightily against the undermanned Jazz. Jokic attempted 10 shots in the first quarter and just nine the rest of the way, doing his best to get Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray going throughout the contest.

Porter had just four points at halftime but bounced back in the third quarter. He finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, including some nice setups to Jokic on the short roll for layups and floaters. Jokic spent much of the second and third quarter exclusively looking for MPJ, and that consistent rapport got the Nuggets forward going.

Murray, after logging 20 points and seven assists in Monday’s loss, had 22 points and eight assists compared to just one turnover in tonight’s win. Murray’s three-point shooting continues to struggle, but he’s finding a nice rhythm off the dribble inside the arc with a variety of layups, floaters, jump shots, and free throws. The Nuggets starting point guard also had four steals, playing the passing lanes well after a pretty low energy first quarter defensively.

The Jazz had several injuries to their name. Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Filipowski, Cody Williams, and Taylor Hendricks (out for the season) all missed tonight’s contest. That left a lot of pressure on Keyonte George and Collin Sexton. George had 23 points on 23 shots and wasn’t that efficient tonight. Sexton faired better with 26 points, but it just wasn’t enough for Utah. After 35 points first quarter, the Jazz scored just 68 points in the final three periods. Part of that was Denver’s defense working harder, but a significant portion of it was turnovers and three-pointers simply not falling for Utah’s reserves.

Still, the Nuggets took advantage of it nicely. Credit to Christian Braun and Peyton Watson for their defensive efforts. Braun had seven rebounds, a block, and played smart defense in a full 41 minutes. Watson played just 28 minutes, but his defensive impact was tangible on and off the ball. He tied for the team lead at +20 in plus-minus.

Denver’s bench wasn’t perfect, but Russell Westbrook and Julian Strawther each played a strong first half. Westbrook had seven points and five assists in that time, setting the table for Jokic consistently.

Strawther had multiple three-pointers and made a nice hustling block toward the end of the third quarter. Hunter Tyson was hustling all over the place and even hit a corner three-pointer. DeAndre Jordan grabbed some defensive rebounds.

Overall, a solid win for Denver. Aspects of it could have improved, but the Nuggets just needed a comfortable win, and they got that.

Being Thankful

It’s been a polarizing start to the season for the Denver Nuggets. They now have a 10-7 record, and following a loss by the Phoenix Suns, the Nuggets have moved up to seventh in the Western Conference standings.

With Murray’s struggles on the season fairly apparent, Aaron Gordon being sidelined for several games, and the Nuggets simply looking shaky, it would be easy to look past the fact that the Nuggets are 10-7, and they’re still in a reasonable position overall.

It’s important to step back every now and then and reassess. The Nuggets still have Nikola Jokic. Michael Porter Jr. has played mostly great basketball this season. Christian Braun just scored in double digits for the 17th game in a row to start the season. Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther are getting consistent reps that will help them prepare for when the going gets tougher.

Tonight, Nikola Jokic said the Nuggets are “not even close” to putting together a complete performance as a team. He senses how far away Denver is. He knows what Denver looks like when they’re championship caliber. That’s  not what we’re seeing right now.

Still, that doesn’t mean they can’t get there. The Nuggets got their wake-up call on Monday night when they allowed 145 to the Knicks. Malone lit into the team for their effort, and it was deserved. Tonight, the effort was better (for three quarters) and Denver got an easy win. Not every team will be the last place Utah Jazz, but Denver has to take advantage of these moments while they can.

Now, the Nuggets get three days off, something I’m sure they’re thankful for heading into Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hopefully, the Nuggets and their families can spend some quality time together, get away from basketball a bit. That’s a necessary part of the NBA season for sure.

When they return, I expect the Nuggets to return with a bit more verve, a bit more intensity. They messed around for a little bit, but now, it’s time to get going for real. Murray’s looking better, Aaron Gordon should be back soon, and the Nuggets will hope to capitalize.

So, be thankful that the playoffs aren’t here yet. The NBA season is a ong journey with ups and downs. The Nuggets aren’t quite ready for that final push. Good thing there’s 65 games left to go between now and then.

Final Rotations