Denver Nuggets Snatch a Playoff Opener After OT, Defeat Utah Jazz, 135-125

The Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz opened the 2020 NBA playoffs tonight with spectacular overtime clash. Eventually, the Nuggets defeated Jazz 135-125, led by a fantastic Donovan Mitchell who set a franchise record.

Mitchell dropped 57 points, the franchise record, but that didn’t help his Utah take down Jokic and the boys. He had Jamal Murray across the court, who scored 10 of his 36 points in the overtime. The result in the additional ten minutes was 20-10 for Michael Malone’s boys.

“If Donovan Mitchell averages 57 and we win, I’ll stay away from the drawing board (to make adjustments)… we are not satisfied. This is just one step in a very long series,” said Malone following the game.

🏀 FINAL SCORE THREAD 🏀

Jamal Murray's #NBAPlayoffs career-high 36 PTS, 9 AST propel the @nuggets to the OT win and a 1-0 series lead!

Nikola Jokic: 29 PTS, 10 REB
Donovan Mitchell: 57 PTS (career-high), 9 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/tjWExKLdoY

— NBA (@NBA) August 17, 2020

Denver was controlling the game in the first half, reaching a 12-point lead with 2:19 to go until the end of the same. They would open the match better than the Jazzers who had some struggles on the offensive side of the ball, but as time went by, they became better and better. Coming into the third period, Utah had an 83-78 advantage but didn’t manage to keep it until the end.

Both sides were trading buckets in the last sequence, and in the end, the Nuggets were the ones who had a chance to win, but Jokic missed it. Nevertheless, Murray erased that with his burst in the overtime, and Denver captured the lead in the series.

“Jamal was incredible,” Malone stated joking. “He’s my vote for Bud Light Player of the Game.”

Murray had 36 buckets, was shooting 13-for-20 from the field and 6-for-9 from downtown, adding nine assists and two steals.

Nikola Jokic had a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds, hitting four threes, while Jerami Grant once again played very well coming off the bench. The strong forward had 19 points. Michael Porter Jr. contributed with 12 buckets, 8 boards, while Monta Morris delivered 14.

Among the Jazzers, Mitchell had 57, 9 boards and seven dimes, hitting 6 threes, all of his 13 free throws, and 19 of 33 shots from the field. The next best thing was Joe Ingles, with 19 points, 6 assists, and five boards. Jeremy Clarkson had 18, and Rudy Gobert scored 17 and had 7 boards.

57 Pts
19-33 FG
6-15 3-Pt FG
13-13 FT
9 Reb
7 Ast

Donovan Mitchell put on a SHOW despite the loss. pic.twitter.com/gBHM0mwhOR

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 17, 2020

Utah had 52 boards, nine more than the Nuggets, but Denver shot from behind the arc superbly with 53.7%, compared to 34% of the Jazzers.

Quin Snyder didn’t count on Mike Conley, who left the bubble to attend the birth of his child. The experience point guard would come quite handy to Utah in tonight’s match. Before joining the team, he needs to spend four days into the quarantine, which will definitely remove Conly from the combination for Game 2. That one is this Wednesday.

“I know he’s with us in mind and spirit, but his body needs to be with his baby and Mary,” Snyder said. “We’re thrilled he’s able to experience that.”

Utah’s offense needs to be more diverse, and that is where Conley steps in. Without him on the court, Jazz have no playmakers, and Mitchell needs to have the ball in his hands too often. Meanwhile, with MC present, the flow of the ball is much more faster, and overall, Mitchel saves his energy, being better in defense.

The Jazz haven’t been convincing in the bubble, and they need to play smarter and disable Nuggets’ bursts led by Jokic and Murray.