Mission accomplished for Quin Snyder’s men who have regained the advantage in this series by delivering a demonstration against the Nuggets who never existed. In addition to their external success (48.6% at 18/37 at 3-points), the Jazzmen celebrated the return of Mike Conley with an almost perfect performance from their playmaker (27 points at 7/8 at 3-points, 4 assists, 0 lost ball).
The icing on the cake, Rudy Gobert (24 points to 11/15 shooting, 14 rebounds) perfectly muzzled Nikola Jokic (15 points) and was ultra-dominant near the circle by pointing at 20 points from halftime .
Rudy Gobert s’impose
Already in difficulty in Game 2, Denver still does not respond in a first quarter marked by rare lightning from Jamal Murray and only 14 points scored by Mike Malone’s men! The Nuggets also fall on a great Rudy Gobert who walks in front of Nikola Jokic, like his offensive rebound followed by a hook on the head of the Serbian. But beyond that, the Frenchman is hyperactive in attack and rewarded for his efforts by scoring 12 of his team’s 25 points after 12 minutes (25-14).
Once again ready for service, Mike Conley marks his return of two 3-point missiles that set the tone to begin the second act (34-16). Rudy Gobert continues his festival and drives the point home with the manner, three baskets in a row including a dunk and an alley-oop served by Mike Conley, forcing Mike Malone to stop the game while the Frenchman is warmly congratulated by Donovan Mitchell (42 -20).
Nikola Jokic finally wakes up but the downpour from Salt Lake City is not over yet, the gap climbing to +25 following a 3-point from Donovan Mitchell (53-28). Just before the break, the Nuggets pass an 11-0 concluded by two 3-point baskets signed Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap, but let Mike Conley complete the first half of a step-back which preserves a 17-point gap in favor of Jazz (59-42).
Nuggets in the sauce
Denver still struggles to support the comparison back from the locker room, like the duel between Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic. The attack of the suffering Nuggets contrasts with that of the Jazz which seems to unfold, the gap briefly pointing to +27 (77-50). Even after missing seven shots in a row, Utah suffered no backlash, until Rudy Gobert restarted the machine with two authoritative dunks on two serves from Jordan Clarkson (83-58).
Here is the Jazz started again with still Jordan Clarkson and Georges Niang who make fall the rain before Donovan Mitchell does not carry the mark to 90-60 of a monstrous tomar in counter-attack after an interception on a too soft pass of Nikola Jokic. There is still more than a quarter to play but the fate of the match seems already sealed, as Utah evolves a tone above its opponent.
On the bench, Jamal Murray is head down and Nikola Jokic seems helpless, at least as much as his teammates on the ground who continue to take the broth while Mike Conley and Georges Niang still artillery from afar (105-66). Painfully, and after long minutes punctuated by a few final blows from Bol Bol, the Nuggets finally bow by 37 points (124-87).
It will take a lot of heart and courage for this Denver team to bounce back on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myig667AjxU
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