Jazz at Nuggets
The Nuggets continue their battle for Western Conference supremacy Thursday when they try to defeat the Utah Jazz for the sixth straight time in Denver. The Nuggets are one-half game behind first-place Golden State in the West and have won 15 of their last 21 home games versus Utah
Denver has won five straight games and was resting at home Wednesday while the Jazz were posting a 111-105 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets have scored 120 or more points three times during the five-game winning streak, including Tuesday's solid 121-112 home triumph over Oklahoma City. Utah resides in sixth place as it begins a stretch during which eight of 13 contests are on the road. "That's a big win for us. Everybody is so close right now in the standings," Utah power forward Derrick Favors told reporters after Wednesday's win. "We need every win that we can get, and hopefully it pays off for us in the end. That was a good win for us. I think everybody is proud of that win."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE JAZZ (34-26): Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points against the Clippers and has recorded 20 or more in 20 of his last 21 contests. Mitchell was 10-for-22 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line, with the 12 attempts matching his second-highest total of the season. "Donovan attached the rim, and when you do that, good things can happen," coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "It was good to see him doing that."
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (42-18): All-Star center Nikola Jokic recorded 36 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds to narrowly miss his 13th triple-double of the season in the win over the Thunder. Jokic is averaging 20.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists as the leading reason why Denver has turned into one of the top teams in the West. "When the game's on the line, we're going to one guy: Nikola Jokic," coach Michael Malone told reporters. "He's been able to score in the post against single coverage and double teams. We've won so many close games ... and a lot of those you can attribute to Nikola being effective and efficient in the post and score, make the right play or go to the foul line and make a free throw."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams have split two games this season with the home squad winning each time.
2. Utah PG Ricky Rubio (hamstring) departed the victory over the Clippers and his availability for Thursday contest is uncertain.
3. Denver swingman Will Barton scored 23 points against Oklahoma City after recording just three versus the Clippers two nights earlier.