3 keys in the Utah Jazz’s 117-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets
Powered by standout performances by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets staved off elimination, pulling within one game in the series.
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Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic drives against Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Mike Ehrmann, Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz may be headed to the Western Conference semifinals, but not just yet.
The Jazz came up short Tuesday night, losing to the Denver Nuggets 117-107. With the win, the Nuggets staved off elimination, pulling within one game of the Jazz in the series (Utah leads 3-2).
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Utah Jazz's Mike Conley shoots during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap shoots against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder shouts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap, right, is defended by Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert dunks gainst the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic drives against Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Rudy Gobert, right, of the Utah Jazz drives the ball against Nikola Jokic, left, of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic shoots against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the first halfof Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Torrey Craig, left, of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles shoots against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)= | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray drives against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Utah Jazz's Royce O'Neale brings the ball up during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
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Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles passes the ball as Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic defends during the third quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP) | Mike Ehrmann, AP
Here are three keys to the Jazz’s loss:
Utah has been great in the clutch during the series, Donovan Mitchell in particular, but it was the Nuggets who came up with the big plays down the stretch Tuesday night. Denver outscored Utah 21-11 in the final six minutes of the game. Denver guard Jamal Murray was the catalyst time and again and scored 16 fourth quarter points.
Murray finished with a game-high 42 points, which comes on the heels of his 50-point performance Sunday night. The Canadian national shot 17 of 26 from the field, and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. He nearly had a triple-double, with eight rebounds and eight assists and was seemingly unstoppable in the second half, where he played every single minute. Mitchell did his best to keep pace and finished with a Jazz-best 30 points, but Utah simply couldn’t contain Murray.
Not the be left out was Denver center Nikola Jokic. He was was dominant early and kept the Nuggets in the game when the Jazz appeared primed to pull away. Jokic finished with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Nuggets got what they wanted offensively most of the game, especially in the second half, as they shot over 50% from the field and over 45% from behind the arc.
