Gordon and Strawther lead Denver’s turnaround in 117-106 win over Utah

A bright Jazz opening faded fast

Utah looked sharper early. Jaxson Hayes opened the scoring with a tip shot, Darryn Peterson followed with a 3-foot alley-oop dunk, and Keyonte George helped build the first cushion with a 23-foot jumper and two early assists. When Jaren Jackson Jr. scored from 6 feet at 8:43 of the first quarter, the Jazz were up 9-3 and Denver was still trying to settle into the night.

The Jazz kept that edge through the quarter. Peterson hit again from 10 feet, Ace Bailey knocked down a 25-foot three, and Svi Mykhailiuk buried back-to-back threes in the final 65 seconds to send Utah to the break ahead 31-24. Denver had answers from Aaron Gordon, who scored eight in the quarter, but Utah’s opening stretch was cleaner and more varied than the final score would suggest.

Gordon changed the game in the second quarter

The swing came in the middle of the second. Utah still led 40-33 after Peterson’s pull-up jumper at 8:44, but Denver answered in measured, efficient bursts rather than one overwhelming run. Gordon tied it at 40-40 with a 25-foot running pull-up at 7:08, Cameron Johnson gave the Nuggets their first lead of the night with a 26-foot three at 5:50, and Denver never fully handed control back.

That quarter belonged to Denver’s accuracy and balance. Gordon finished with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 6-of-7 from the line, while Johnson added 10 points and Julian Strawther started to find space before halftime. Nikola Jokic scored only six points, but his five assists mattered in the turn, including setups for Gordon dunks and Johnson’s three. Tyus Jones added six assists of his own as Denver piled up 26 on the night.

The closing minutes of the half showed the difference. After Hayes tied the game at 46-46, Denver finished the period with a steadier scoring rhythm: Gordon’s layup and free throw at 56.4 seconds pushed the margin to seven, Jamal Murray added two free throws, and Christian Braun drilled a 25-foot three with 9.6 seconds left. Collier answered just before the horn, but the Nuggets had still turned a seven-point first-quarter deficit into a 65-59 halftime lead.

Strawther’s third-quarter burst gave Denver room

Denver’s best basketball came right after the break. Strawther opened the half with a floater, Marvin Bagley III followed with a tip shot, and the Nuggets kept stacking efficient possessions. Strawther then hit from 24 feet at 9:55 and again from 23 feet at 5:11, part of a 15-point night on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3 of 4 from deep.

Bagley gave Denver useful interior scoring with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and Cam Whitmore added 14 points, many of them arriving as Utah tried to stay attached. The Nuggets did not need one dominant scorer; they kept getting one clean contribution after another. By the end of the third, they had stretched the lead to 95-81, winning the quarter 30-22.

Peterson kept Utah from fading completely. He finished with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, and 11 of those points came in the third quarter. His jumpers at 1:36 and 59 seconds, followed by a three with 20.1 seconds left, gave Utah a pulse heading into the fourth. Bailey added 10 points and seven rebounds, and Mo Bamba’s 10 rebounds helped the Jazz stay alive on the glass.

Our take: Utah found extra chances, but Denver made the better use of its trips

Utah actually created the kind of volume that usually keeps a game within reach. The Jazz attempted 94 shots to Denver’s 72 and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, finishing with a 43-42 edge on the boards. The problem was what happened after those possessions were earned. Utah shot 43.6 per cent from the field, 32.4 per cent from three and just 12 of 22 at the free-throw line. Those misses cancelled out much of the value of the extra chances.

Denver’s path was simpler and more convincing. The Nuggets shot 52.8 per cent overall, hit 11 of 28 from long range and made 30 free throws. When Utah pushed in the fourth — cutting the gap to 109-101 on Harrison Ingram’s turnaround jumper with 2:52 left — Denver had immediate answers. Trevon Brazile scored at 2:31, Whitmore made two free throws at 1:34, and DaRon Holmes II closed the scoring with two free throws and a tip-in dunk. If Denver is looking for polish, 15 turnovers, 28 fouls and two technicals leave room for it. For Utah, the cleaner fix is obvious: after 36 fouls and a 10-point deficit at the stripe, the margin for error disappeared long before the final minute.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:18

   Jaxson Hayes makes tip shot

2. 1st Quarter · 10:59

   Darryn Peterson makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Keyonte George assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 9:42

   Aaron Gordon makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot

4. 1st Quarter · 9:15

   Keyonte George makes 23-foot fade away jump shot

5. 1st Quarter · 8:43

   Jaren Jackson Jr. makes 6-foot two point shot (Keyonte George assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 8:09

   Aaron Gordon makes 2-foot driving dunk (Jamal Murray assists)

7. 1st Quarter · 7:23

   Jaxson Hayes makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Keyonte George assists)

8. 1st Quarter · 6:19

   Darryn Peterson makes 10-foot pullup jump shot

9. 1st Quarter · 5:58

   Nikola Jokic makes 8-foot two point shot (Cameron Johnson assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 5:36

    Cameron Johnson makes 2-foot running dunk (Nikola Jokic assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 5:14

    Keyonte George makes 25-foot three pointer (Darryn Peterson assists)

12. 1st Quarter · 4:53

    Nikola Jokic makes 6-foot two point shot

13. 1st Quarter · 4:28

    Mo Bamba makes layup (Josh Okogie assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 4:07

    Jamal Murray makes 14-foot step back jumpshot

15. 1st Quarter · 3:20

    Mo Bamba makes alley oop layup (Darryn Peterson assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 2:32

    DeMar DeRozan makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyus Jones assists)

17. 1st Quarter · 2:16

    Ace Bailey makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Collier assists)

18. 1st Quarter · 1:57

    Julian Strawther makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tyus Jones assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 1:33

    Ace Bailey makes 1-foot dunk

20. 1st Quarter · 1:21

    Alpha Diallo makes 24-foot three point jumper (Julian Strawther assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 1:05

    Svi Mykhailiuk makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josh Okogie assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 29.3

    Svi Mykhailiuk makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot

23. 1st Quarter · 11.3

    DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 1 of 2

24. 1st Quarter · 11.3

    DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 2 of 2

25. 2nd Quarter · 10:59

    Alpha Diallo makes 22-foot three point jumper (Julian Strawther assists)

26. 2nd Quarter · 10:39

    Mo Bamba makes tip shot

27. 2nd Quarter · 10:18

    Marvin Bagley III makes 11-foot floating jump shot (Tyus Jones assists)

28. 2nd Quarter · 9:42

    Julian Strawther makes free throw 1 of 2

29. 2nd Quarter · 9:42

    Julian Strawther makes free throw 2 of 2

30. 2nd Quarter · 9:34

    Darryn Peterson makes free throw 1 of 2

31. 2nd Quarter · 9:34

    Darryn Peterson makes free throw 2 of 2

32. 2nd Quarter · 9:16

    Jaren Jackson Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Darryn Peterson assists)

33. 2nd Quarter · 9:02

    DeMar DeRozan makes 16-foot pullup jump shot

34. 2nd Quarter · 8:44

    Darryn Peterson makes 18-foot pullup jump shot

35. 2nd Quarter · 8:06

    Marvin Bagley III makes running layup (Tyus Jones assists)

36. 2nd Quarter · 7:38

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 2

37. 2nd Quarter · 7:38

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 2 of 2

38. 2nd Quarter · 7:08

    Aaron Gordon makes 25-foot running pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists)

39. 2nd Quarter · 6:00

    Darryn Peterson makes driving layup (Ace Bailey assists)

40. 2nd Quarter · 5:50

    Cameron Johnson makes 26-foot three point jumper (DeMar DeRozan assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 5:01

    Darryn Peterson makes 10-foot pullup jump shot

42. 2nd Quarter · 4:41

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 2

43. 2nd Quarter · 4:24

    Cameron Johnson makes running layup (Jamal Murray assists)

44. 2nd Quarter · 4:10

    Jaxson Hayes makes alley oop layup (Keyonte George assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 3:53

    Nikola Jokic makes free throw 2 of 2

46. 2nd Quarter · 3:23

    Christian Braun makes two point shot

47. 2nd Quarter · 3:11

    Jaxson Hayes makes free throw 2 of 2

48. 2nd Quarter · 2:57

    Aaron Gordon makes 2-foot dunk (Nikola Jokic assists)

49. 2nd Quarter · 2:33

    Nikola Jokic makes free throw 2 of 2

50. 2nd Quarter · 2:16

    Josh Okogie makes 24-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Collier assists)

51. 2nd Quarter · 2:02

    Cameron Johnson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)

52. 2nd Quarter · 1:25

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 2

53. 2nd Quarter · 1:25

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 2 of 2

54. 2nd Quarter · 1:12

    Josh Okogie makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ace Bailey assists)

55. 2nd Quarter · 56.4

    Aaron Gordon makes 11-foot layup (Nikola Jokic assists)

56. 2nd Quarter · 56.4

    Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 1

57. 2nd Quarter · 47.7

    Jaren Jackson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2

58. 2nd Quarter · 47.7

    Jaren Jackson Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2

59. 2nd Quarter · 35.3

    Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 2

60. 2nd Quarter · 35.3

    Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2

61. 2nd Quarter · 32.7

    Isaiah Collier makes driving layup

62. 2nd Quarter · 9.6

    Christian Braun makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jamal Murray assists)

63. 2nd Quarter · 0.1

    Isaiah Collier makes 11-foot fade away jump shot

64. 3rd Quarter · 11:24

    Julian Strawther makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot

65. 3rd Quarter · 10:40

    Marvin Bagley III makes tip shot

66. 3rd Quarter · 10:10

    Julian Strawther makes free throw 1 of 2

67. 3rd Quarter · 10:10

    Julian Strawther makes free throw 2 of 2

68. 3rd Quarter · 10:05

    Isaiah Collier makes driving layup

69. 3rd Quarter · 9:55

    Julian Strawther makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyus Jones assists)

70. 3rd Quarter · 9:28

    Alpha Diallo makes 1-foot dunk

71. 3rd Quarter · 8:22

    Tyus Jones makes 21-foot pullup jump shot (Julian Strawther assists)

72. 3rd Quarter · 7:40

    Darryn Peterson makes 15-foot pullup jump shot

73. 3rd Quarter · 7:15

    Ace Bailey makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josh Okogie assists)

74. 3rd Quarter · 6:59

    Marvin Bagley III makes free throw 1 of 2

75. 3rd Quarter · 6:59

    Marvin Bagley III makes free throw 2 of 2

76. 3rd Quarter · 6:33

    Marvin Bagley III makes 12-foot floating jump shot (Tyus Jones assists)

77. 3rd Quarter · 5:31

    Mo Bamba makes layup (Isaiah Collier assists)

78. 3rd Quarter · 5:11

    Julian Strawther makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ryan Nembhard assists)

79. 3rd Quarter · 4:30

    Cam Whitmore makes driving layup

80. 3rd Quarter · 3:36

    Darryn Peterson makes 15-foot pullup jump shot (Josh Green assists)

81. 3rd Quarter · 3:12

    Zeke Nnaji makes 6-foot two point shot (Bryce Hopkins assists)

82. 3rd Quarter · 2:53

    Ace Bailey makes 22-foot pullup jump shot

83. 3rd Quarter · 2:27

    Zeke Nnaji makes free throw 1 of 2

84. 3rd Quarter · 2:27

    Zeke Nnaji makes free throw 2 of 2

85. 3rd Quarter · 2:00

    Cam Whitmore makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 2:00

    Cam Whitmore makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 1:36

    Darryn Peterson makes 20-foot pullup jump shot

88. 3rd Quarter · 59.0

    Darryn Peterson makes 14-foot pullup jump shot

89. 3rd Quarter · 20.1

    Darryn Peterson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josh Green assists)

90. 3rd Quarter · 14.6

    Cam Whitmore makes 3-foot two point shot

91. 3rd Quarter · 3.2

    Josh Okogie makes driving layup (Ace Bailey assists)

92. 4th Quarter · 11:43

    Zeke Nnaji makes 16-foot jumper (Ryan Nembhard assists)

93. 4th Quarter · 10:12

    Svi Mykhailiuk makes two point shot

94. 4th Quarter · 10:02

    Bryce Hopkins makes free throw 1 of 2

95. 4th Quarter · 9:40

    Ryan Nembhard makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot

96. 4th Quarter · 8:31

    Svi Mykhailiuk makes free throw 2 of 2

97. 4th Quarter · 7:35

    Jonas Aidoo makes layup

98. 4th Quarter · 6:51

    Jonas Aidoo makes free throw 2 of 2

99. 4th Quarter · 6:29

    Harrison Ingram makes 25-foot three point jumper (Trey Alexander assists)

100. 4th Quarter · 6:00

     Cam Whitmore makes driving layup (DaRon Holmes II assists)

101. 4th Quarter · 5:45

     Harrison Ingram makes 12-foot pullup jump shot

102. 4th Quarter · 5:19

     Lonnie Walker IV makes free throw 1 of 2

103. 4th Quarter · 4:57

     Trevon Brazile makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists)

104. 4th Quarter · 4:43

     Trey Alexander makes 9-foot pullup jump shot

105. 4th Quarter · 4:15

     Jonas Aidoo makes free throw 2 of 2

106. 4th Quarter · 3:53

     Cam Whitmore makes 4-foot dunk (DaRon Holmes II assists)

107. 4th Quarter · 3:46

     Jonas Aidoo makes 3-foot dunk (Harrison Ingram assists)

108. 4th Quarter · 3:16

     Harrison Ingram makes free throw 1 of 2

109. 4th Quarter · 3:16

     Harrison Ingram makes free throw 2 of 2

110. 4th Quarter · 3:04

     Cam Whitmore makes free throw 1 of 2

111. 4th Quarter · 3:04

     Cam Whitmore makes free throw 2 of 2

112. 4th Quarter · 2:52

     Harrison Ingram makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot

113. 4th Quarter · 2:31

     Trevon Brazile makes layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)

114. 4th Quarter · 1:34

     Cam Whitmore makes free throw 1 of 2

115. 4th Quarter · 1:34

     Cam Whitmore makes free throw 2 of 2

116. 4th Quarter · 1:27

     Trey Alexander makes 24-foot three point jumper (Harrison Ingram assists)

117. 4th Quarter · 1:14

     DaRon Holmes II makes free throw 1 of 2

118. 4th Quarter · 1:14

     DaRon Holmes II makes free throw 2 of 2

119. 4th Quarter · 1:04

     Trey Alexander makes free throw 1 of 2

120. 4th Quarter · 1:04

     Trey Alexander makes free throw 2 of 2

121. 4th Quarter · 38.5

     DaRon Holmes II makes tip in dunk