SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz are a win away from the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets 129-127 Sunday night in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series between Western Conference enemies. The victory was Utah’s third straight in the series.
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Denver Nuggets’ Torrey Craig (3) shoots when Rudy Gobert (27) of the Utah Jazz defends in the first half of an NBA basketball first playoff game Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Joe Ingles # 2 of the Utah Jazz grabs a rebound against Jerami Grant # 9 of the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell, right, talks to Rudy Gobert in the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. (1) shot as Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson (00) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson (00) drives to the track when the Denver Nuggets’ Monte Morris (11) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets (1) and Tony Bradley (13) of the Utah Jazz reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball first playoff game Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (27) responds to a call in the first half of an NBA basketball first playoff game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Monte Morris, center, of the Denver Nuggets, rides between Jordan Clarkson, left, and Georges Niang, right, of the Utah Jazz in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday 23 August. 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Jamal Murray, right, of the Denver Nuggets drives against Georges Niang, left, of the Utah Jazz in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista , Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell, 45, is on trial as the Denver Nuggets’ Torrey Craig (Denver) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball first playoff game on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Monte Morris, right, of the Denver Nuggets, drives past Mike Conley, left, of the Utah Jazz in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Monte Morris, right, of the Denver Nuggets, shoots Mike Conley, left, of the Utah Jazz in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert (27) goes up for a shot when Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic defends in the second half of an NBA basketball first playoff game on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
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Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray responds to a foul call in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first playoff series, Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Kevin C. Cox, AP
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Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert (27) hits the ball against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game on Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ashley Landis, AP
Here are three keys to winning the Jazz:
- Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. The Jazzwachter was probably the best player on the floor, a performance that has become more and more frequent during the post season. Mitchell led the Jazz with a game-high 51 points and added seven assists to boot. Mitchell was fairly efficient, especially in the first half when he led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-9 shots from the field. He finished the game 15 of 27 from the field. Most importantly, he scored 13 of Utah’s last 15 points to seal the victory.
- As good as Mitchell was, he was not the only standout performer. Reserve Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, Mike Conley added 24 points, while Rudy Gobert finished with a double-double, with 17 points and 11 rebounds. On the Denver side, Jamal Murray had the best game of his young postseason career, scoring a team-high 50 points and tied at nine 3-pointers.
- The Jazz stepped into the NBA bubble as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the NBA and they used the bow with great effect on Sunday, making 14 shots from distance. However, the 3-point line was not the best line for the Jazz in the game. Utah lived on the free throw line and made the majority of their attempts – 31 of 36. Mitchell did the most damage to the line with 17 free throws made on 18 attempts.
