Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Betting Odds, Picks

• The Utah Jazz look for the second win of their coming four-game road trip.
• The Denver Nuggets return home after going 3-1 on a short four-game road trip.
• The Jazz won their earlier meeting with the Nuggets this season, 122-110.

Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets Odds

Head-to-Head: Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets

Injury Report

How Can the Jazz Beat the Nuggets?

When it comes to the Utah Jazz, their defensive style is effective due to the shot-blocking ability and intimidation of Rudy Gobert in the paint. To beat the Nuggets, the Jazz will need to show how capable they are keeping up with off-ball players.

The Denver Nuggets aren’t particularly excellent in any area, save for passing. Fifth in the league with 25.7 assists per game, the ball movement that is encouraged by Nikola Jokic is infectious.

Utah is excellent at keeping with their man and leading players toward their shot blockers. However when the game slows down, how focused they are in tracking runners and cutters will determine how successful their defence can be.

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Jazz Key Player: (C) Rudy Gobert

RT to vote! ?#NBAAllStar | @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/jFnSYor60p

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 1, 2022

As always, Rudy Gobert’s impact is felt on the defensive end of the ball more than on the offensive end. His task in this game will be countering reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic.

In his last game, Gobert put in what has now come to be a normal performance by his standards. He posted 10 points, 17 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 37 minutes of play.

In order to beat the Nuggets, Gobert must be more of a force on the offensive end. In Utah’s earlier season victory over Denver, Gobert posted 23 points and 16 rebounds on 7 of 8 shooting from the field. When he’s aggressive, not even the reigning MVP can steal the game from Utah.

How Can the Nuggets Beat the Jazz?

The Denver Nuggets will have their hands full trying to stop the Utah Jazz in this matchup. Versatile on both ends of the court, the Jazz offence could pose problems for Denver.

The Jazz is the top three-point shooting team in the NBA, making 15.1 threes per game and converting on 36.7% of their three-point attempts. Denver holds their opponents to 34.2% from deep, but the drive-and-kick ability of Donovan Mitchell is something much of the league lacks.

Denver needs to be sharp on their rotations if they hope to beat the Utah Jazz. If the Nuggets can’t reign in Utah’s perimeter shooting, they could be overwhelmed quickly.

Nuggets Key Player: (C) Nikola Jokic

27 & 16 for the MVP last night.

⭐️ RT to vote #NikolaJokic for #NBAAllStar ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/rmDsRBzUAC

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 4, 2022

The Denver Nuggets continue to flirt with the top of the Western Conference table, mostly due to the fantastic play of Nikola Jokic. Matched up with Rudy Gobert, we’ll get to see one of the best individual battles in the NBA.

In his last game Jokic posted 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes of play. He was efficient on offence, shooting 11 of 18 from the field and converting on all of his free throws.

He may have a bit less offensive freedom matched up against Rudy Gobert, which is why he must improve his three-point shooting. Going just 2 of 11 from deep in his last three games, Jokic must be more accurate to take down the Jazz.

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