Jazz 121, Nuggets 102
JAZZ 121, NUGGETS 102: Al Jefferson had 23 points and eight rebounds, leading seven players in double figures as host Utah earned a season-high sixth consecutive victory.
In scoring its most points of the season, Utah (26-22) moved into a three-way tie for seventh place in the West with the Nuggets and idle Houston.
Gordon Hayward had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Utah improved to 6-0 at Energy Solutions Arena in March. Devin Harris had 13 points and a season-high nine assists.
Alec Burks scored 15, Paul Millsap had 14 and C.J. Miles and Derrick Favors each scored 12.
Jefferson was 11 of 16, and the Jazz shot 59.3 percent (48 of 81).
Al Harrington scored 20 for the Nuggets, who opened a seven-game trip. Kenneth Faried scored 16 on 5-of-7 shooting. Wilson Chandler added 13, Andre Miller had 12 and JaVale McGee scored 11.
Utah had its highest scoring half of the season and took a 63-55 halftime lead. The Jazz quickly put the game away in the third, outscoring the Nuggets 31-21 for a 94-76 lead.
Denver's Arron Afflalo had 14 before being ejected in the third quarter. Afflalo was tossed after a flagrant Type 2 foul for throwing an elbow at Hayward with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter.
Harris’ driving slam dunk highlighted a 22-4 run and 91-64 lead for the Jazz as Denver went scoreless for nearly six minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jazz guard Earl Watson said Sacramento big man DeMarcus Cousins - who called Utah’s Devin Harris a kid after Thursday’s 103-102 loss - can pick on him next time he wants to hassle a Utah player. “The DeMarcus kid: I don't know,” Watson said. “We're in the playoff hunt. I'm not sure what his purpose is. I know what our purpose is.” … Utah guard Raja Bell got a second opinion on his injured left knee and is out indefinitely.