Jazz
Jazz open on 36-26 run, hold off Nuggets 109-97 in Boulder
Utah outscored Denver 36-26 in the first quarter and never let the lead shrink past single digits again, closing out a 109-97 win at CU Events Center. Lauri Markkanen led four Jazz players in double figures as Utah shot 15-of-45 from three. It's a preseason result, so no standings impact, but Utah also beat Denver 117-106 two days later to sweep the series.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 17 d ago01The story of the nightFast start decides itUtah's 36-point first quarter was the game.
Utah's 36-point first quarter was the game. The Jazz led 36-26 after one, and while Denver matched them in each of the next three quarters (26-27, 25-25, 20-21), the Nuggets could never cut into that opening gap. The score margin sat at 11 points at half (63-52) and 11 again after three (88-77) before Utah closed it out 109-97. Utah's biggest lead reached 18 points; Denver's biggest lead topped out at just 6. Both teams had only two lead changes all game, underlining how early Utah seized control and how little the Nuggets threatened to take it back.
02Markkanen and the Jazz bench carry the offenseLauri Markkanen led all scorers with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three and a perfect 4-of-4…
Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line, in just 13.7 minutes. Keyonte George added 15 points and 3 assists in 21.2 minutes. Utah's bench was deep: Blake Hinson scored 14 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 11, and Ace Bailey chipped in 10. For Denver, Julian Strawther paced all scorers off the bench with 14 points, with Aaron Gordon adding 12 and Tyus Jones handing out 6 assists.
03Won on the arc, lost on bench scoringUtah shot 15-of-45 from three to Denver's 11-of-39, the clearest edge in the box score.
Utah shot 15-of-45 from three to Denver's 11-of-39, the clearest edge in the box score. Denver actually won the paint, 40 points to 34, and ran more in transition, scoring 14 fast-break points to Utah's 8. But Denver's bench outscored Utah's bench only marginally, 60-59, not enough to offset the three-point gap. Turnovers were close (Denver 11, Utah 10) and points off turnovers were even at 15 apiece. Denver also out-blocked Utah 8-5, with Jaxson Hayes alone recording 3 blocks, but it wasn't enough to flip the result.
04What it meansThis was a preseason game, so no wins or losses count toward the regular-season record for either team, which both…
This was a preseason game, so no wins or losses count toward the regular-season record for either team, which both sit at 0-0. For Utah, the balance between Markkanen, George, and a bench that produced 59 points is an encouraging sign heading into the season. For Denver, Nikola Jokic played just 15.1 minutes and scored only 3 points, a clear sign of preseason load management rather than a true form check. The two teams played again two days later, with Denver winning 117-106 in the rematch to even the preseason series.
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