The Denver Nuggets finished strong Friday night at Ball Arena, using a big fourth quarter to come away with a 135-129 win over the Utah Jazz. Denver led early, gave up momentum through the middle quarters, then regrouped late behind Nikola Jokic’s all-around production and a balanced offensive effort. The Nuggets improved to 47-28 with the result, while the Jazz dropped to 21-53.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First Quarter: Denver opened the game in rhythm and took control quickly, outscoring Utah 37-26 in the opening period. The Nuggets moved the ball well, created quality looks from the perimeter, and set the tone offensively with 37 points in the first 12 minutes.
Second Quarter: Utah answered in the second, winning the period 36-25 to erase Denver’s early edge. The Jazz tightened up offensively, found success in the half court, and went into halftime with a 62-61 lead after trimming down the Nuggets’ first-quarter cushion.
Third Quarter: The game opened up even more after halftime. Utah put together its highest-scoring quarter of the night with 43 points in the third, while Denver stayed close with 36. The Jazz entered the fourth quarter ahead 105-97 after shooting efficiently and keeping pressure on Denver’s defense.
Fourth Quarter: Denver delivered its best response when it mattered most. The Nuggets outscored the Jazz 37-24 in the final period, flipping an eight-point deficit into a six-point win. Their execution improved on both ends late, and their offense generated enough clean possessions to pull away in the closing minutes.
Key performers
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: Jokic led Denver with 33 points and added 15 rebounds and 12 assists for a triple-double. He was central to everything the Nuggets did offensively, from scoring in the paint to creating shots for teammates.
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: Murray paced Denver’s playmaking with 14 assists, helping the Nuggets finish with 34 as a team. His organization and late-game decision-making were key in the fourth-quarter turnaround.
Denver team offense: The Nuggets made 19 of 48 from three-point range and finished with 45 field goals on 34 assists. They also made 26 of 32 free throws and won the rebound battle 51-43.
Kyle Filipowski, Jazz: Filipowski led Utah with 25 points and added eight rebounds in an efficient outing. He gave the Jazz a steady offensive option throughout the night.
Cody Williams and Utah’s ball movement: Williams led the Jazz with seven assists, and Utah matched Denver with 34 team assists. The Jazz also shot an impressive 55.8 percent from the field, showing how effective their offense was for much of the game.
Game analysis
This game was a contrast in shot profile and late-game execution. Utah was more efficient overall from the field, making 53 of 95 shots, but Denver made up the difference with volume and spacing from beyond the arc. The Nuggets hit 19 threes to Utah’s nine, a 30-point to 27-point edge from long range despite similar shot totals overall.
Denver also created extra value at the foul line and on the glass. The Nuggets attempted 32 free throws compared with Utah’s 19, and their plus-eight margin in rebounds helped offset the Jazz’s stronger field-goal percentage. That combination gave Denver enough possession advantage to stay within reach until its fourth-quarter push.
The turning point was Denver’s final 12 minutes. After allowing 79 points across the second and third quarters, the Nuggets tightened up and held Utah to 24 points in the fourth. Offensively, they returned to a more connected style, with Jokic and Murray directing possessions and getting the ball to the right spots. In a game that featured strong offense from both sides, Denver’s late composure was the difference.
Closing context
The win moved Denver to 47-28 and strengthened its position as the regular season heads toward the finish. For the Jazz, now 21-53, the performance still offered positives after three strong quarters on the road, but the late slip prevented what would have been one of their better closing results of the month. Friday’s matchup showed Denver’s ability to recover in a high-scoring game and Utah’s continued development despite the loss.
