The Nuggets flirted with a comeback, and Nikola Jokic hinted at a miracle.
That hope, despite Jokic’s seventh triple-double of the season, never met reality.
The Jazz stormed into Ball Arena on Wednesday and seized a 115-109 win over the depleted Nuggets. Jokic’s 26-point, 21-rebound, 11-assist night went for nothing as he couldn’t get the requisite help.
Donovan Mitchell (17 points) was largely kept in check, but sniper Bojan Bogdanovic pummeled the Nuggets for 36 points.
A clutch Monte Morris 3-pointer trimmed the deficit to just 94-91 with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as they’d get.