Game 48: Denver Nuggets (32-15) vs. Utah Jazz (32-15) - 10:30 PM ET

[ducler]

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[NuggetsWY]

IMO Utah plays team-ball on both ends of the court. If we want to beat them, I don't think anybody can afford any time off.

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[skywalker33]

Would've really liked to see Murray and/or Millsap back for this game but it's reserve/depth time again. Tough game again against our direct division rival, feels like we need someone (MPJ ?) to really step up here.

[SkillzFromThe6]

Denver almost ALWAYS struggles vs Utah. I expect back-to-back losses to UTA and MIL.

[THE J0KER]

Denver almost ALWAYS struggles vs Utah. I expect back-to-back losses to UTA and MIL.

Both games are open, despite Denver's best guard and two very important bigs are out. In the Pepsi Center, we can beat Utah, while Bucks are beatable on the road in case Giannis who missed the last game will not play again.

I give Nuggets even over 50% chances against Jazz if Malone put Jokic 37+ minutes on the court and MPJ 28+ minutes. Also, we need another big game from Grant, which suddenly is our 2nd best player in the past 6 games.

[THE J0KER]

Scoreless Mitchell, but Jazz still lead +5 at halftime thanks to insane 9-19 for 3pt (2-10 Nuggets). Chances are still about 50/50.

[SkillzFromThe6]

Denver almost ALWAYS struggles vs Utah. I expect back-to-back losses to UTA and MIL.

I know nothing.

[skywalker33]

Great win by the Nuggets, shutting down Mitchell was awesome !! Clarkson has elevated this team just as he was expected, making their bench dangerous. However we had 5 players in double figures scoring when we had our injuries limiting us, FANTASTIC !!

[THE J0KER]

We shutdown Mitchell, have key 27-1 run in the middle of the 2nd half, but it is still thev tough win at the end with Clarkson scoring almost 40, Gobert 9-10 from field, and whole Utah team was 17-37 great from 3pt.

Jokic was mediocre in the 1st (6p 1r) but on MVP level in 2nd half (scoring 22p vs 2xDPOY), MPJ once again makes double-double playing just 25 minutes, Barton and Grant played on starters level, but key player tonight and Nuggets X-factor was Craig, with great defense on Mitchell and very decent offense. He definitively feels better in backcourt role than SF where his defense is not so good when he being undersized.

Which is best, Clippers lost at home vs Kings, so we are WC#4 three hours ago, but back at #2 now again, and in tomorrow's game vs Bucks Giannis is doubtful, so we can finish January better than expected despite all these injuries.

[NuggetsWY]

Denver almost ALWAYS struggles vs Utah. I expect back-to-back losses to UTA and MIL.

I know nothing.

You just said what a lot of us were thinking!

I loved seeing Beasley diving for loose balls - the Nuggets don't do much of that.
Less than 23 FTs - and 23+ seems to be our best shot at winning.

Porter had a 12/12 game - it's time he was starting, especially with all of the injuries. His defense has improved enough.

I don't like Craig as a starter but give him credit for his 13/10 game!

[TunaFish]

Craig switched a lot onto Mitchell. He had an outstanding defensive game and a decent enough offensive game but I still like him better coming off the bench than in a starting role.

I remain steadfastly in favor of starting Porter, Jr. He is improving at every facet of the game, particularly rebounding and he provides an offense threat at any position they play him (including power forward). He may end up being the team's steals leader when he gets the minutes.