Nikola Jokic scores team-high 27 points, leading the Nuggets past the Jazz 129-103

Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 20 arsenic nan Denver Nuggets utilized a third-quarter violative surge to hit nan Utah Jazz 129-103 for their first location triumph of nan season

DENVER -- Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 20 arsenic nan Denver Nuggets utilized a third-quarter violative surge to hit nan Utah Jazz 129-103 connected Saturday nighttime for their first location triumph of nan season.

Julian Strawther added 19 points and Christian Braun 17 for nan Nuggets, who sent nan winless Jazz to their sixth consecutive nonaccomplishment to commencement nan season. Jokic besides had 16 rebounds and 9 assists.

Utah was led by Walker Kessler pinch 18 points and 14 rebounds and Johnny Juzang pinch 17 points.

Both teams were dealing pinch injuries. Russell Westbrook started successful spot of Nuggets prima Jamal Murray, who remained successful concussion protocol aft suffering a caput wounded successful a collision pinch Julius Randle astatine Minnesota connected Friday.

Utah has been leaning connected rookies Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski, who were successful nan starting lineup, successful nan absence of Lauri Markkanen (back spasms) and Taylor Hendricks (broken leg).

Utah committed 24 turnovers that nan Nuggets turned into 39 points.

Jazz: Utah kept it reasonably adjacent successful nan first half but wore down successful nan 3rd quarter, erstwhile it fell down by 24 points.

Nuggets: Denver began its location run pinch losses to nan Thunder and nan Clippers earlier defeating Utah. The triumph was successful keeping pinch their location grounds against sub-.500 teams astatine location past season, erstwhile they were 15-0.

Utah fought backmost from a 17-point first-quarter shortage to necktie nan crippled astatine 42-all midway done nan 2nd quarter. But Denver responded pinch a 14-0 tally that featured 3-pointers by Braun and Porter, helping nan Nuggets spell connected apical 65-56 astatine halftime.

Jokic scored 18 of his 27 points successful nan 3rd quarter, helping nan Nuggets outscore nan Jazz 34-19.

The Jazz proceed their four-game roadworthy travel Monday nighttime successful Chicago while nan Nuggets big nan Toronto Raptors connected Monday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba