Nikola Jokic tallied another 30-point game, and Jamal Murray scored 23 as the Denver Nuggets got away with the victory in a double overtime game against the Utah Jazz, 134-132.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Ontiveroz/ The Denver Post
Jokic also added 11 boards, 7 assists, and 3 steals, while Murray put up 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and one block in his first game in the bubble after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Nuggets, who only lead as much as 7 points in the entire game, received more offensive support from rookie Michael Porter Jr. and back-up Jerami Grant, who scored 23 and 21, respectively.
Donovan Mitchell amassed 35 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block while French big man Rudy Gobert added 22 points, 13 boards, 2 dimes , and 1 block in the loss. Guards Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson combined for 39 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists to back up Mitchell’s massive offensive performance.
The Jazz were down by 6 points with 10.8 seconds left in the regulation before Mitchell cut the lead to 4 by sinking two free throws. Denver’s Jokic committed a crucial turnover that led to Mitchell’s three pointer with 7.8 seconds left to cut the deficit to 1, 103-104.
Jerami Grant sank 1 out of 2 free throws for the Nuggets to separate the lead, 105-103, but Jazz had other plans as Mitchell scored a game tying lay-up with 0.9 seconds left. Jamal Murray was not able to sink the game winner that led the game to overtime.
The Nuggets led as many as 6 points in the first overtime, 111-105, courtesy of Murray’s floating jump shot with 2:25 seconds left in the game. The Jazz then took the lead at 30.8 seconds mark, off a three-point field goal from Mitchell, 117-115.
With 20.7 seconds left in the overtime, Jokic sank two free throws and tied the game with 117 apiece. Mitchell then came up with a clutch jump shot to take the lead before Jokic went back with a clutch shot of his own to send the game to second overtime.
The Denver Nuggets opened the second overtime off a cutting lay-up from Grant to grab the lead, 121-119. The Nuggets then never looked back, extending the lead up to 7 points, 130-123, with less than a minute left.
The Jazz tried one last fightback as Mitchell made a three-pointer with 5.6 seconds left to cut the deficit to two. Murray was not able to convert two game-sealing free throw shots for the Nuggets, but Utah was not able to capitalize as Mitchell missed a game winning three-point shot.
Scores
Nuggets (134)- Jokic 30, Murray 23, Porter Jr. 23, Grant 21, Morris 15, Craig 11, Plumlee 5, Dozier 4, Millsap 2
Jazz (132)- Mitchell 35, Gobert 22, Conley 20, Clarkson 19, Ingles 11, Niang 9, Bradley 7, O’Neale 6, Oni 3, Brantley 0
