3 keys from the Utah Jazz’s 129-127 win over the Denver Nuggets
Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 51 points, out-dueling Jamal Murray in a historic playoff battle.
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Utah Jazz’s Mike Conley (10) challenges Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (27) for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Ashley Landis, AP
Trent Wood is a sports writer for the Deseret News.
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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz are a win away from the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets 129-127 Sunday night in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series between the Western Conference foes. The victory was Utah’s third straight in the series.
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Denver Nuggets' Torrey Craig (3) shoots as Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz grabs a rebound against Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, right, talks with Rudy Gobert during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots as Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) drives toward the basket as Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. (1) and Utah Jazz's Tony Bradley (13) reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Utah Jazz Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Monte Morris, center, of the Denver Nuggets, drives between Jordan Clarkson, left, and Georges Niang, right, of the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Jamal Murray, right, of the Denver Nuggets drives against Georges Niang, left, of the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) drives up the court as Denver Nuggets' Torrey Craig (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Monte Morris, right, of the Denver Nuggets, drives past Mike Conley, left, of the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Monte Morris, right, of the Denver Nuggets, shoots against Mike Conley, left, of the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) goes up for a shot as Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic defends during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray reacts after a foul call during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP) | Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | Ashley Landis, AP
Here are three keys to the Jazz’s win:
Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz guard was arguably the best player on the floor, an occurrence that has become increasingly common in the postseason. Mitchell led the Jazz with a game-high 51 points and added seven assists to boot. Mitchell was fairly efficient, particularly in the first half when he led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. He finished the game 15 of 27 from the field. Most importantly, he scored 13 of Utah’s final 15 points to seal the victory.
As good as Mitchell was, his wasn’t the only standout performance. Reserve Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, Mike Conley added 26 points, while Rudy Gobert finished with a double-double, with 17 points and 11 rebounds. On the Denver side, Jamal Murray had the best game of his young postseason career, scoring a team-high 50 points and connecting on nine 3-pointers.
The Jazz entered the NBA bubble as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the NBA and they used the arc to great effect Sunday, making 14 shots from distance. The 3-point line wasn’t actually the best line for the Jazz in the game, though. Utah lived at the free-throw line and made the majority of their attempts — 31 of 36. Mitchell did most of the damage at the line with 17 made free throws on 18 attempts.
