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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — No person is anticipating a lot from the Utah Jazz. That’s simply the best way they need it.
“All of us have chips on our shoulders. Everybody right here desires to point out folks that we’re a troublesome workforce,” Colin Sexton stated.
Sexton scored 20 factors, Lauri Markkanen added 17 and the new-look Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 123-102 on Wednesday evening within the season opener for each groups.
New Jazz coach Will Hardy, a former assistant with the Boston Celtics, received his first recreation.
“There’s an actual camaraderie with this group even at this early stage as a result of I believe all of our guys perceive that none of them can do it on their very own,” Hardy stated.
His gamers celebrated the victory with a water bottle tub and introduced their coach the sport ball as he obtained emotional.
“We had been simply so completely satisfied for him. He deserves it. He’s given a whole lot of guys a whole lot of confidence to go on the market and play the best method,” Mike Conley stated.
It was a stunning consequence for a Denver workforce constructed for a title run and the Jazz, who’re rebuilding after buying and selling cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
“In that first half (the Jazz) outworked us and I believe to a person everybody in (our) locker room would agree,” Denver coach Mike Malone. “We appeared like a special workforce, felt like a special workforce (int he second half). However on this league you may’t choose and select once you play.”
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Rudy Homosexual scored 16 factors, Malik Beasley had 15 and Conley, the lone returning starter from final season, had 13 as Utah had seven gamers in double-figure scoring. Rookie Walker Kessler had 12 factors and 10 rebounds, and the Jazz shot 50.6% from the sphere.
Nikola Jokic scored 27 factors and Aaron Gordon had 22 for Denver however they weren’t pleased with their first recreation.
“Even once we offered open seems, we didn’t shoot these. I believe the mentality was that we didn’t know what to do,” Jokic stated.
The Jazz, as is perhaps anticipated with a younger workforce with 10 new additions, almost unraveled after main comfortably a lot of the recreation. A sequence of turnovers and missed rotations allowed the Nuggets to claw again from 24 factors down.
Jokic, the two-time reigning Most Useful Participant, introduced the Nuggets again to 105-98 on a operating hook.
However Homosexual and Beasley made back-to-back 3-pointers whereas the Nuggets shook their heads and Beasley did an prolonged shimmy.
“It’s going to assist us down the street to construct that confidence that if I’m open, I do know my teammates are going to get the ball to me,” stated Sexton, who missed most of final 12 months with a torn meniscus.
“The Bull is again,” he stated, referring to his nickname, “Younger Bull”.
Key gamers Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ont., and Michael Porter Jr. are additionally again from accidents however the Nuggets appeared rusty, particularly on protection as they allowed a 14-0 run to begin the second quarter and 27-7 general surge that out the Jazz in command.
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When Sexton hit a 3-pointer late within the second quarter, the Jazz led 68-44. Regardless of Gordon’s 16 factors and Jokic’s 14, the Nuggets trailed 75-53 and the Jazz left for the halftime break to a standing ovation from a shocked, but energized crowd.
MURRAY’S BACK
Murray, who missed all of final season because of knee surgical procedure, scored 12 factors on 5-for-13 taking pictures.
“I used to be shaking off the rust clearly. I obtained some nice seems, rushed into them hoping simply to get slightly rhythm,” Murray stated.
He performed 25 minutes, probably the most he has performed in a full scrimmage or preseason recreation because the damage.
“Jamal performed precisely (how) I anticipated. … The man hasn’t performed in a very long time. That is his first NBA recreation since April twelfth two years in the past. ? I’m going to stick with him. I do know what he’s able to,” Malone stated.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Jokic was visibly annoyed, committing an offensive foul after which getting burned by Sexton on consecutive possessions for baskets late within the recreation. ? The Nuggets outscored the Jazz within the paint, 68-42. ? Denver dedicated seven turnovers within the fourth quarter.
Jazz: Clarkson welcomed the Jazz followers earlier than the sport and reminded them that WBNA star Brittney Griner stays in a Russian jail and desires the followers’ “blessings” … At one level, Vanderbilt was outrebounding the entire Nuggets, 12-9. However he picked up fouls 4 and 5 early within the third quarter earlier than he may very well be substituted. … Canadian Kelly Olynyk obtained a technical within the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Golden State on Friday evening.
Jazz: At Minnesota on Friday evening.
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