Ty Lawson helps Denver Nuggets defeat Utah Jazz 103-101
The Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to three games, with a hard-fought 103-101 win against the Utah Jazz at the Energy Solutions Arena on Thursday night. The result marked Denver’s 11th road victory of the season.
Nuggets coach George Karl praised his team’s performance by saying, "Big win, exactly what we needed. We overcame missing free throws. We overcame some tough calls. In Utah, they get calls here. Constantly just kept thinking we were going to win and we did."
The 23-year-old guard Ty Lawson played one of his best games of the 2010-11 season, as he finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists in the victory. Arron Afflalo came off the bench with 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Nuggets.
While Nene and Chris Andersen both scored 13 points for Denver, who have won five their last six games, since trading away Carmelo Anthony.
Devin Harris played a simple but effective game as he contributed 21 points and nine assists, hitting a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds to play. Al Jefferson had one of his best all-around games for the Jazz, recording 19 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked
shots in the defeat.
C.J. Miles scored 22 points for the Jazz, who have lost three consecutive games. Andrei Kirilenko had 12 points while forward Paul Millsap finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for Utah, who have lost eight of their last nine games.
Match Analysis
The Nuggets attacked the basket and scored the first seven points of the contest. The Jazz on the other hand, played sloppy basketball, as they missed some easy shots. Denver stayed in front until the end of the opening quarter, taking a 30-23 lead into
the second.
Utah and Denver started the second quarter at a crisp pace, using 28 possessions apiece. However, the Nuggets managed to take a 58-51 advantage into the locker room. Denver did not relinquish the lead until late in the third quarter when the Jazz turned
it around and scored 10 straight points. Utah converted the seven-point half time deficit into a 76-74 lead at the end of three quarters.
The Nuggets attempted 25 free throws while the Jazz took just three in the final stanza of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Denver got themselves right back into the game, as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 94-90 lead. However, the Jazz retook the lead (96-94) after scoring six consecutive points. Lawson then drew a questionable foul on Harris with less
than two minutes to go until the final buzzer and made both free throws to give Denver a 97-96 edge. Afflalo then hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to give the Nuggets a decisive 102-98 lead.
The 26-year-old Nuggets guard Raymond Felton made 1-of-2 at the foul line to set the stage for a memorable finish. Devin Harris then did all he could as he made a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to cut the Nuggets lead to just two points at 103-101. Raja
Bell then wasted an excellent opportunity to send the game into overtime as he missed a shot from long-range.
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