Key #3 – Slow down Denver’s backcourt
As good as Nikola Jokic is, the Utah Jazz have seemingly done a pretty good job of neutralizing him in many of their recent contests against the Denver Nuggets. However, the last time these two teams met, the Jazz were absolutely punished by Denver’s starting backcourt of Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. Murray finished the game with 22 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from deep while Harris put up 15 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and deep.
It was a putrid offensive and defensive performance by the Jazz which saw Denver’s guards completely outmatch Utah’s starting duo of Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell who combined for just 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting.
Jazz-Nuggets Key Matchup: Donovan Mitchell vs. Gary Harris https://t.co/Znd3c94CfS pic.twitter.com/BTzTVVKx8h
— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) January 5, 2018
And both of Denver’s starting guards have been on an absolute tear of late. Harris is coming off of a 36-point outpouring against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. He’s scored 15 points or more in eight of his last nine games and also notched 36 points against Boston less than a month ago. Meanwhile, Murray has been just as good, logging two 30+ point games in the last seven and four additional 20+ point games in his last 11.
In other words, that’s a trend that’s in absolute need of a reversal if the Jazz are to arise victorious tonight. While it might be a bit much to expect Rubio to have any sort of big game given his track record in a Jazz uniform, hopefully Donovan Mitchell will be able to step up big time and supposed sixth man Rodney Hood will be able to shake his recent shooting funk and help Utah find some success off the bench.