The Nuggets wrap up their home stand tonight against the not-in-last-place(!) Utah Jazz. After closing a solid week with a stupid game against a mouthy Kevin Durant (who is 1-2 vs. Bruce Brown this season), Denver will try to reclaim momentum against a lively Jazz ensemble who gave the Lakers and Magic all they wanted in two tough defeats prior to tonight.
The Jazz may be without star forward Lauri Markkanen who has missed the last two managing a groin injury. Utah is still missing Walker Kessler and Georges Niang, as well, meaning the front line could be one-time Denver stiff Jusef Nurkic and not much else. You’re in luck, though, Jazz fans coming to the game tonight, as the Nuggets may be in a giving spirit if they’re looking forward to a back-to-back in Dallas tomorrow and the Christmas Day brawl against the Wolves.
The Basics
Who: Utah Jazz (10-17) vs Denver Nuggets (20-7)
When: 7:00 PM MT
Where: Ball Arena, Denver CO
How to watch/listen: Altitude/ + / 92.5
Rival Blog: SLC Dunk
Injury Report | Nuggets: Peyton Watson – questionable (trunk contusion); Aaron Gordon – out (hamstring); Christian Braun – out (foot)
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen – questionable (groin); Walker Kessler – out (shoulder); Kevin Love – out (rest); Georges Niang – out (foot)
The Three Things
The thing to watch for: Will homecourt ever become an advantage again?
Going 1-1 against the Rockets at home last week is nothing to be ashamed of, but Ball Arena hasn’t been the feared lung-burner it’s been in the past. With Saturday’s loss, the Nuggets are now just 8-5 at home, with four of those losses coming to heavy underdogs. NBA teams are too talented, top to bottom, for the Nuggets to keep sleepwalking through first halves at home.
A consistent trend in the lack of home-court edge has been the defense. Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun’s continued absence along with Peyton Watson’s compounding trunk injury has put a lot of pressure on a thinned rotation that tends to rely on its historic scoring, especially against sub-.500 competition. But if they’re going to keep pace with the top teams in the West until the cavalry returns, these are the games they need to dominate early so the crowd can help fuel defensive efforts that translate into easier closeout wins.
The thing to remember: Keyonte George is in a leap year
If you haven’t heard the name “Keyonte George,” you’ll probably know it after tonight. The third-year guard from Baylor is averaging 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists with good efficiency and deadly free-throw shooting. His 8-point jump from last season seems to be more than a blip with 2026 a little more than a week off and his play getting better.
In his last four games, Keyonte has scored 39, 37, 34, and 27 against some solid defenses like the Magic and Mavericks. If the Nuggets let him get off early and often, it could be another tight fourth quarter that forces Jokic and Murray into more minutes than they need to be playing in December against a banged up bottom-feeder.
The thing to bet: Jokic +points
Nikola always seems to enjoy playing against Jusef, having put up huge scoring games in the past. Tonight should be no different with the Jazz being down several of their best bigs and on the second night of a back-to-back.
That is, of course, if Jokic comes out looking for his shot. Don’t be surprised at all if he ends up with 13 points and 19 assists either. But that’s why they call it “gambling.”
