Utah Jazz Lose Final Game Of 2024 To Denver Nuggets
Dec 30, 2024, 5:54 PM | Updated: Jan 2, 2025, 2:22 pm
SALT LAKE CITY- The Utah Jazz played their last game of 2024, closing out the year at Delta Center against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Jazz saw the return of Keyonte George after missing four games with an ankle injury.
The first half as a whole was fast-paced and saw both the Jazz and the Nuggets score a lot of points. Nikola Jokic finished the first frame with nine points, but the Jazz hung right with them in the first quarter thanks to 13 early points from Jordan Clarkson, who led all scorers after one.
Clarkson dropped in two three-points as a part of his scorching start. Johnny Juzang also added eight points of his own and was Utahโs biggest positive of the quarter with a +12 in the +/- column.
Utah and Denver remained neck and neck throughout the second quarter, but the Jazz were able to squeeze out a small advantage, entering the halftime break up 66-64. The play of the second quarter for the Jazz came with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter. Jamal Murray was being guarded by Isaiah Collier at the top of the paint beyond the three-point line. DeAndre Jordan set a screen on Collier, forcing Kyle Filipowski to pick up Murray. Collier fought through the screen, and suddenly Jamal Murray found himself being double-teamed.
Filipowski poked the ball out of Murrayโs hands and Isaiah Collier was off to the races. He picked up the loose ball around half-court and took it uncontested all the way to the hoop for the slam.
The Denver Nuggets went on a run to open the second half and would go on to outscore the Utah Jazz by 11 in the frame.
Despite the deficit, the Jazz were able to take advantage of some Nikola Jokic bench minutes at the beginning of the fourth quarter. A pair of three-pointers from Cody Williams helped Utah climb to within two points, but turnovers from the Jazz stacked up and Denver would end up winning 132-121.
Both Nikola Jokic (36 pts, 22 reb, 11 ast) and Russell Westbrook (16 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) ended the night with triple-doubles. Denver also took advantage of Utah’s forfeited possessions, scoring 21 points off of turnovers.
that's a wrap on 2024. pic.twitter.com/rPvHbPhslw
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
Pregame
all smiles before the last game of 2024 ๐ pic.twitter.com/dDVQxM6lpN
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 30, 2024
Keyonte George is officially available for the @utahjazz against the @nuggets.#TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) December 31, 2024
UPDATED Jazz Injury Report:
*AVAILABLE – Keyonte George (left ankle sprain)
OUT – John Collins (left hip contusion)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)
OUT – David Jones Garcia (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Oscar Tshiebwe (G League – Two-Way) https://t.co/CRbbBY2IQG
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
walk-ins are looking ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ง than usual ๐๐ป๐ถ#TakeNote presented by @VivintHome pic.twitter.com/QF3RWENV4e
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
he's ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐#TakeNote | @keyonte1george pic.twitter.com/e0kKpBCVvb
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
the camera may shake but we stay focused ๐๏ธ#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/k5zgAarjB8
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
first start of the season and sixth career start for @JohnnyJuzang ๐๐ซก#StartingLineup presented by @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/VhEu2GeLei
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
First Quarter
the return is officially ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐๐
tap in and let's get Key to ASW โญ๏ธ | https://t.co/r0WqJC1lpF pic.twitter.com/aGpzQZAsFr
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
๐ฃ๏ธ Hey Utah, get me ฬถtฬถwฬถoฬถ THREE ๐โโ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/gFLxg9Eapz
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
With 5:16 left in the first quarter, the @utahjazz lead the @nuggets 22-16.
Johnny Juzang has a quick eight points to lead the Jazz.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
pickin', rollin' and scorin' ๐ค pic.twitter.com/GSb4o2Mbf4
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
Johnny on the spot-up? you betcha ๐ฏ pic.twitter.com/6Rn95yo1Uc
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
the flame is very much ๐๐ ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/7Nrn927c7t
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
High-scoring first quarter as the @utahjazz lead the @nuggets 37-36.
Jazz shoot 43 percent from three, and were led by Jordan Clarkson's 13 points off the bench. #takenote pic.twitter.com/3w2ZVjsBW5
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
Second Quarter
the rooks are out here wreaking ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ ๐ pic.twitter.com/pBYSGWoQni
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
At the 6:07 mark of the second quarter, the @utahjazz lead the @nuggets 54-47.
Jordan Clarkson leads all scorers with 13 points.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
biiiiiiiiig stretch ๐ https://t.co/HX3OkdBoSA pic.twitter.com/2hQDMNIQ4U
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
At the break, the @utahjazz lead the @nuggets 66-64.
Four Jazz players are in double-digits already, led by Jordan Clarkson's 15. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/j5uutGESqF
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
fresh 24 comin' up! pic.twitter.com/hyIRrxFr9n
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
Third Quarter
making a splash to kick off the second half ๐ง๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง pic.twitter.com/5ocsz7xqir
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
when you see the young bull step back, you know he's gonna ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ด ๐ pic.twitter.com/Kn8dW1Hwp7
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
With 8:41 left in the third quarter the @utahjazz trail the @Nuggets 73-71.
Jazz offense is getting a little bogged down early in the second half. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Aw6nkqimGE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
the flames just keep comin' and comin' and comin' ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/no5tjoFuPq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
the rook's playing bully ball ๐ pic.twitter.com/glkEbvPlfA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
The @nuggets have begun to pull away from the @utahjazz and lead 98-89 through three quarters.
Nikola Jokic is well on his way to a triple-double with 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 assists. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/KVcXidIHoG
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2024
work to do in the final frame ๐ pic.twitter.com/2iUeTu2XyC
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
Fourth Quarter
#๐๐ on the court but #1 in our hearts ๐๐ซก pic.twitter.com/tWRbnN8Ujx
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
spot up,
knock down,
๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐ค pic.twitter.com/ohZnGu1Qfm— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
|๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ๏ฟฃ|
SHARING IS CARING
|๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ|
(__/) ||
(โขใ โข) ||
/ ใ ใฅ pic.twitter.com/Yn8VBtD6Gy— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
Key in the key means tough buckets ๐๐ฎโ๐จ pic.twitter.com/A7YMiYAejD
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
that's a wrap on 2024. pic.twitter.com/rPvHbPhslw
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2024
