Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland (3) celebrates a 3 level basket in opposition to the Utah Jazz in the course of the second quarter of an NBA basketball sport Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photograph/Jack Dempsey) AP
DENVER — The Utah Jazz shocked everybody once they beat reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on opening evening.
Heading into Denver on Friday evening with a 4-1 report, it was all however sure that the Nuggets have been going to be trying to precise revenge.
That’s precisely what occurred as Bones Hyland and Michael Porter Jr. mixed for 48 factors to guide the Nuggets previous the Jazz, 117-101.
What went mistaken?
Properly, the Nuggets just about dictated how the sport was going to be performed. They acquired the pictures they wished, making an unbelievable 17-of-37 from 3-point vary. Denver performed on the tempo it wished, slowing the Jazz down, and benefited from a poor Jazz capturing evening.
Rebounding, although, was notably dangerous for the Jazz, with the Nuggets knocking down 58 boards to the Jazz’s 38.
Coach Malone's ideas about tonight's sport 🎙 pic.twitter.com/AHSxpL3onR
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 29, 2022
What was even worse for the Jazz was their incapability to shut out possessions. When the Nuggets have been lacking pictures, they have been crashing the boards relentlessly, knocking down 17 offensive rebounds and incomes themselves 19 second-chance factors.
“They did job of rebounding their very own misses on some inside pictures,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy mentioned. “We had first-shot protection on the within, after which their size harm us a little bit bit — tipping some balls to themselves — and we simply weren’t in a position to give you the rebounds defensively.
“As a lot as we’ve emphasised offensive rebounding and doing that as a gaggle, I feel we have to proceed to emphasise doing it on the defensive finish, particularly once we’re enjoying some smaller lineups.”
The Nuggets led by as many as 29 factors, and though the Jazz bench made run to get the sport again to single digits, the Nuggets didn’t appear to have to strive too onerous to place the sport out of attain as soon as once more.
Lastly, Hardy waved the white flag with 8:29 left to play, trailing by 25, emptying the bench.
Sickness + damage + shedding = alternative
Previous to the end-of-bench group checking in for the ultimate stretch of the sport, there was some further alternative for minutes on Friday evening.
Rudy Homosexual and Simone Fontecchio are within the league’s COVID well being and security protocol, Walker Kessler was not feeling effectively and didn’t make the journey to Denver and though Collin Sexton was in a position to play (he was questionable earlier within the day with a left indirect contusion), he discovered himself in foul hassle.
All of that to say that the Jazz lastly acquired to get a greater have a look at Leandro Bolmaro and rookie Ochai Agbaji in some prolonged minutes.
“I used to be actually, actually proud of them,” Hardy mentioned. “These guys work actually onerous. They play lots at observe and on off days to remain sharp, as a result of they haven’t been getting a ton of sport minutes.
“I assumed they executed the best way we wish to play very effectively, thought they competed on the defensive finish, they acquired out in transition, they tried to share the ball. There are some proficient younger gamers in that group.”
Agbaji confirmed a little bit little bit of his athleticism and made some actually good off-ball reads when slicing to the basket. He wasn’t afraid of contact and he seemed fairly comfy for his first prolonged run.
Bolmaro was one of many few vivid spots when it got here to getting the sport again to the Jazz’s tempo. He’s lightning fast and he makes actually sensible and quick selections regardless of seemingly going at 100 miles per hour on a regular basis.
As soon as the bench cleared, Udoka Azubuike made his season debut, enjoying for the primary time since having ankle surgical procedure final season.
Two-way heart/ahead Micah Potter additionally made his Jazz debut.
Busy Bones
Hyland has had a little bit of a tough begin to the season in Denver. His effectivity and productiveness are down in comparison with final season, and he averaged simply 9.2 factors within the Nuggets’ first 5 video games.
However he seemed velvety clean and completely in rhythm on Friday evening in opposition to the Jazz. Hyland completed the evening with a game-high 26 factors off the bench, having shot an unbelievable 7-of-12 from deep.
Denver has been ready for Hyland to interrupt out of what has felt like a droop, and for him to be extra energetic.
There’s nonetheless some room for him to affect the sport extra on the defensive aspect and there’s some decision-making that typically appears questionable, however when the man is capturing the lights out and appears completely unstoppable, you reside with all the opposite stuff and let him cook dinner.