Nuggets vs. Jazz: game 4 preview

The Denver Nuggets are coming off a terrible game three performance in which they were routed by the Utah Jazz by 37 points.

The Nuggets are facing a crucial moment as they try to avoid going down 3-1 against the  scorching hot Utah Jazz. The Nuggets are lucky to not be down 3-0 and facing elimination to begin with, as they barely withstood Donovan Mitchell‘s onslaught in game one in overtime.

Game three was about as bad it gets for the Nuggets. The team’s defense was almost comically poor, particularly in the first half, and the usually high powered offense generated a terrible 14 points in the first quarter. They were down 17 at halftime and 32 going into the fourth quarter.

Nikola Jokic was the team’s leading scorer with just 15 points, while Jamal Murray added 12. Bol Bol was the only other Nugget to score in double figures, as he added 11 in garbage time. The Jazz got absolutely everything they wanted offensively and completely shut down a totally anemic Denver offense.

For the Nuggets, this situation is similar to their game four showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers in last year’s conference semifinals, after losing game three in four overtimes. Denver managed to rebound in game four of that series and even it up at two before ultimately losing in the seventh and deciding game at home.

The Nuggets have never looked worse under the Michael Malone era. They appeared entirely disinterested and distracted, and quit altogether after the first ten minutes. The Nuggets should be expected to play with an absurd vengeance and bitterness after the way their game three performance looked, and for a team as talented as they are, there is no excuse to not completely drop the hammer on the Jazz and even up the series at two.

Tip-off is at 9:00 P.M. ET.