Nuggets 107, Jazz 91
Ty Lawson led the way with 18 points and nine assists as host Denver turned away struggling Utah.
Jameer Nelson added 18 points off the bench and Danilo Gallinari scored 13 for the Nuggets, who have won two of three. Wilson Chandler contributed 11 points while Will Barton had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
Rudy Gobert recorded 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz, who have dropped four in a row since a stretch of 16 wins in 20 games. Gordon Hayward (shoulder) returned from a two-game absence to add 24 points but Utah allowed an opponent to reach 100 points for the third time in four games.
The Nuggets scored the first six points of the game and never trailed. The Jazz cut it to 22-21 just over a minute into the second quarter but Nelson buried a pair of 3-pointers in a 13-0 run and Denver took a 52-39 lead into the break.
Hayward’s jumper cut it to 59-52 with 6:43 left in the third but Lawson sparked a 7-0 bust to push it back to double figures and it was a 12-point cushion going into the fourth quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Nelson and Barton pushed the advantage to 98-79 with 4:07 to play and the Nuggets cruised to the finish.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Legendary Jazz broadcaster and former player Hot Rod Hundley passed away at age 80 on Friday. … The Jazz had gone 12 straight games without allowing a team more than 91 points before the current defensive drought. … The Nuggets went 13-of-24 from 3-point range, led by Nelson’s 4-of-5.