Nuggets lose 15th game in last 16 trips to Utah as defense disappears

The Nuggets lost 124 111 to the Jazz on Wednesday night in a game that was never close. They return home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday (8 p.m. MT, ESPN) at Ball Arena. Here are three takeaways from the loss. This was arguably the Nuggets’ most disappointing effort of 2023 24 to date, considering they had fresh legs from two days off and a one hour flight to Utah.

The Jazz lead peaked at 25 points during the third quarter, nearly matching Denver’s largest deficit of the season — but when it was 26, it was against the title contending Thunder, rather than a sub .500 opponent like Utah. Not that the Jazz isn’t playing well. It entered Wednesday’s matchup having won eight of the last 10, including consecutive road games at Philadelphia and Milwaukee to firmly plant itself in the mix for Play In Tournament qualification.

Still, the Nuggets played like the team with the losing record, excluding their first points of the night. They got started when Nikola Jokic grabbed a one handed rebound and didn’t even lower the ball below his shoulders before chucking a full court outlet pass to Michael Porter Jr. After that transition layup, starters and bench players looked sluggish while the Jazz ran all over them.

Fast break points were 16 2 at the half as Denver allowed 71 points on 61.9% shooting. Utah assisted 21 of its 26 made baskets in the half. A huge part of the Nuggets’ defensive dud was how they guarded the perimeter. Their general defensive success this season, as well as last season, has largely depended on limiting opponents’ 3 point attempts.

But Utah, ranked 26th in the league in 3 point percentage (35.1%), capitalized on open looks beyond the arc while building its massive lead. The Jazz shot 50% from three in the first half and 40.6% for the game. Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 27 points while Lauri Markkanen added 26, including 12 free throws — evidence of Denver’s uncharacteristically poor discipline inside.

Usually after a dismal defensive stretch, the Nuggets have been good at redeeming themselves within the same game. Case in point last week at Golden State, when a 44 point Warriors third quarter turned into a stunning 18 point Nuggets comeback in the fourth. But this time, Michael Malone was drained of all his timeouts with 5:46 left in the game, using all of them after lackluster defensive moments.

Every time Denver missed a shot, it was susceptible to exposure at the other end. One of the most baffling statistics of Jokic’s career is persisting well past the end of the Donovan Mitchell Rudy Gobert era in Utah. The Nuggets have now lost 15 of their last 16 true road games at the Jazz dating back to the 2014 15 season.

The next year, Jokic came along. The Nuggets are 1 12 in Salt Lake City when he plays, with a minus 147 point differential in those 13 games (averaging an 11.3 point loss). Their remains Jokic’s only victory at Delta Center. Not even his recent surge of shooting efficiency could save Denver. The center didn’t miss a shot from the field until several minutes into the third quarter.

He ended the night 8 for 9 (27 points, 11 rebounds), bringing his total over the last seven games to 83% (62 for 75). He also committed six of the team’s 16 turnovers in a game when Denver only amassed 27 assists. The Nuggets get one more chance in Utah this season, but not until April 9 in their 79th game of the regular season..