The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets: Keys to getting back on track

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Utah Jazz, who have struggled mightily on the road, will have their work cut out for them as they face the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center tonight.

Last week the Utah Jazz earned a big home win over the San Antonio Spurs in one of those outings that made fans think that perhaps the Jazz were getting things put back together again and priming themselves for a big run. Unfortunately, when Oklahoma City came to town two days later, the Jazz were back to their struggling ways and were easily defeated.

Sure, OKC has been red hot of late as they appear to be righting a lot of their earlier wrongs whereas the Spurs are definitely struggling with some injury issues. Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that the Jazz looked like two completely different teams in those two contests. And Utah’s latest loss to OKC marked their eighth loss in the last ten games which has them four games below .500 at 15-19.

Therefore, tonight’s road contest against the Denver Nuggets is going to be a crucial one for the Jazz to get back on track. Especially considering that their next two contests are against the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, it’ll be vital that they don’t fall yet another game below .500 after taking on the Denver Nuggets this evening.

Unfortunately, beating Denver will not be an easy task. The Nuggets have been playing quite well of late and are coming off a statement win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Not only that, but they’re also 11-3 within the friendly confines of the Pepsi Center which has also been a hostile environment for visiting foes. Especially considering that the Jazz are just 3-13 on the road, that’s not exactly a promising sign.

But the Jazz have handled Denver quite well in both contests so far this year, including a 106-77 blowout win in their previous meeting, so if Utah can continue to match up well against the Nugs, they may very well be able to come away with yet another victory. Let’s see what it will take for the Jazz to do just that.

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