Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool
Ryan McDonald
By Ryan McDonald

SALT LAKE CITY — For the second game in a row, the Utah Jazz rolled over the Denver Nuggets Friday afternoon, winning Game 3 of their first-round playoff series 124-87 to take a 2-1 lead.

(3) Denver Nuggets


vs. (6) Utah Jazz


Game 1

Nuggets 135, Jazz 125 (OT)


Game 2

Jazz 124, Nuggets 105


Game 3

Jazz 124, Nuggets 87


Game 4

Jazz 129, Nuggets 127


Game 5

Nuggets 117, Jazz 107


Game 6

Nuggets 119, Jazz 107


Game 7

Nuggets 80, Jazz 78, Nuggets win series 4-3

View Comments

Here are three keys from the game.

  • The Jazz were tremendous defensively throughout, starting with the first quarter as the Nuggets scored just 14 points in the opening 12 minutes. Most notably, Utah did an outstanding job of getting in passing lanes to force turnovers. The Jazz finished with nine steals, and Denver committed 17 turnovers overall.
  • The Jazz were also very good offensively, as the Nuggets’ hapless defense had no answers. Utah went 18-of-37 from behind the 3-point line and scored 48 points in the paint.
  • After missing the first two games of the series, Utah guard Mike Conley was outstanding, finishing with 27 points.
1 of 22
Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, center, cheers as teammates Rudy Gobert (27) and Jordan Clarkson (00) and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) and Paul Millsap (4) walk to their benches during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
2 of 22
Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles (2) passes the ball againstDenver Nuggets' Jamal Murray during the third quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Associated Press
3 of 22
Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) knocks the ball lose from Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
4 of 22
Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) celebrates with teammates during a timeout during the second quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
5 of 22
Utah Jazz's Mike Conley (10) drives as Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris (11), Nikola Jokic (15), Michael Porter Jr. (1) and Jamal Murray, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
6 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) goes up to shoot against Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap (4) and Nikola Jokic (15) during the second quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
7 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, left, looks to dish off as Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap (4) and Michael Porter Jr. (1) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
8 of 22
Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) gets a hand on the shot of Utah Jazz's Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
9 of 22
Utah Jazz's Mike Conley reacts after being fouled during the third quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
10 of 22
Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) looks to pass around Utah Jazz's Royce O'Neale during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
11 of 22
Utah Jazz's Royce O'Neale (23) and Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap (4) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
12 of 22
Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles (2) dishes off as Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
13 of 22
Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) goes up to shoot against Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant (9) during the third quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
14 of 22
Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, top, shoots against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) during the third quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
15 of 22
Denver Nuggets' Torrey Craig (3) and Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert chase down a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
16 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, top left, goes up to shoot against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) and Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the third quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
17 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell celebrates after scoring against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
18 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
19 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell high fives teammate Georges Niang (31) during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
20 of 22
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, center, drives as Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15), Torrey Craig, left, and Monte Morris defend during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
21 of 22
Utah Jazz's Jarrell Brantley (5) drives against Denver Nuggets' Troy Daniels (30) during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, Pool photo via Associated Press
22 of 22
Utah Jazz's Jarrell Brantley (5) knocks the ball loose from Denver Nuggets' Bol Bol (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Associated Press
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.