Nuggets struggle to beat tanking Jazz, Murray steps up

A win is a win. That’s what Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman wants you to believe, and technically he’s right. But Monday night’s 128-125 escape act against the tanking Utah Jazz at Delta Center was the kind of performance that raises even more red flags about the Mile High City Hoopers.

Jamal Murray finished with 45 points on just 19 shots, going 13-for-19 from the field and 8-for-13 from three-point range while adding eight assists. The Nuggets have never lost in the regular season in the ten games he’s tallied 40. It was one of the better scoring nights from deep in Nuggets history, and it had to be — because Denver had no business letting this game come down to the final possessions against an 18-43 team actively trying to lose.

“We needed it,” Murray said of the win. “We needed it by any means necessary. Everybody stepped up and made plays, especially on the defensive end.”

The defensive end? The Nuggets allowed 125 points to a Jazz team missing Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and four others. Utah’s Keyonte George torched Denver for 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, repeatedly getting to the rim against a Nuggets defense that looked like it was on the second night of a back-to-back.

“George played great. He made some really tough shots,” Adelman said. “We changed our coverages with him. When he wasn’t making threes, he was attacking the basket.”

The problems started early. Denver committed six turnovers in the first quarter alone, and the Jazz racked up 25 fast break points for the game compared to just 15 for the Nuggets. Julian Strawther was pulled early after two quick turnovers.

“The turnovers killed us tonight,” Adelman admitted. “It really allowed them to run, led to the 25 fast break points.”

Utah took a 67-66 lead into halftime, and the game remained tight well into the third quarter. The teams were tied as late as the four-minute mark of the third period before Murray decided he’d seen enough.

Murray exploded for 18 points in the third quarter, hitting 6-of-8 shots including 5-of-7 from three. His back-to-back threes midway through the frame gave Denver some breathing room, and his five-point burst late in the quarter pushed the Nuggets’ lead to seven heading into the fourth.

“I just was decisive,” Murray said. “Extended my range a little bit against switching teams. So I just was open shooting it.”

The fourth quarter was anything but comfortable. Jokic started the period on the floor which is rare, but rotations changed because he picked up an early fourth foul in the third quarter. The big man rotation was strange all night with Jonas Valanciunas next to Jokic in Adelman’s starting group — the first time that pair has started together this season. It mucked things up and was a strange look, but with Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones all sidelined, Adelman recently said he’s still searching for lineup solutions. Zeke Nnaji was even on the floor in the final minute for a defensive stop.

“It actually went really well,” Adelman said of the Valanciunas minutes. “I think that we ended up being a plus-10 or something like that. Those guys out there… 17 is more than what he’s been playing to, trying to get him back in a rhythm.”

But Denver went cold at the worst time. The Nuggets shot just 4-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter and didn’t make a single three-pointer, going 0-for-4 from deep. George kept attacking, and the Jazz took a 117-116 lead with 3:19 remaining.

Murray answered with a turnaround fadeaway, but Ace Bailey’s three put Utah back up 120-118 with 2:43 left. Then came the turnovers — Murray lost the ball twice in the final three minutes, and the Jazz pushed their lead to four with under two minutes remaining.

That’s when Jokic went to work at the free throw line, hitting 10-of-11 from the stripe for the game. He drew fouls on consecutive possessions, and Murray’s free throws with 31.8 seconds left gave Denver a 126-125 lead.

The defining moment came with 16.3 seconds remaining. George drove on Jokic, who appeared to foul the scorer and get disqualified from the game. The whistle blew, and it looked like George would shoot free throws with a chance to win. Adelman challenged.

“That’s tough,” Adelman said. “There’s certain nights you think you’re right, and then you’re wrong and you lose your challenge. I’m glad I had it. I’m glad I had the two timeouts left. It allowed us to advance the ball, play the free throw game.”

The call was overturned — clean block — and Denver got the ball back. Jokic sealed it with two free throws as part of Denver’s 20-of-21 at the line in the fourth and George’s final three-point attempt missed as the Nuggets escaped with a three-point win.

“Jamal was really special,” Adelman said. “45 points on 19 shots, he just carried us. He really did. He was the guy that had legs tonight.”

The Nuggets improved to 38-24 with the win, but the issues that plagued them Monday — turnovers, defensive breakdowns, an over-reliance on Murray when Jokic faces triple-teams — aren’t going away against better competition.

“I don’t know. I guess nowadays people judge wins,” Adelman said. “Wins are wins, losses are losses. We would’ve beat OKC if (Alex) Caruso misses that three. We lose tonight. What’s the difference? We’re just trying to win. Get ourselves to a good place.”

What’s next for the Nuggets?

That good place better arrive soon. The Nuggets return home Thursday to host the Los Angeles Lakers and then the New York Knicks on Friday. After that, the schedule turns brutal: Oklahoma City, Houston, and San Antonio — three of the West’s best — all in a row.

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