Nikola Jokic carries short-handed Nuggets past Jazz 106-100

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 28 points, including six in the final two minutes, and dished out 10 assists as the short-handed Denver Nuggets rode a big second-half run to a 106-100 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

Trailing 70-61 with 4:13 left in the third, the Nugget went on a 15-0 spurt to close out the quarter. They continued their roll in the fourth. In all, it was a 27-1 surge — and nearly wasn’t enough.

A 17-point Denver lead was whittled to three before Jokic took over. The big man who just made his second All-Star team hit a pair of free throws, a long jumper and a floater to restore some breathing room.

Jordan Clarkson had 37 points for the Jazz on a night when leading scorer Donovan Mitchell was held to four on 1-for-12 shooting. He didn’t score his first basket until there was 4:05 left in the game. Mitchell was selected to his first All-Star Game earlier in the evening.

This marked the first of four meetings between the Northwest Division rivals. The Nuggets (33-15) moved a game clear of the Jazz (32-16).

Jokic carried the load for a Denver team that was missing Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle), Paul Millsap (bruised left knee), Gary Harris (personal reasons) and Mason Plumlee (right foot). Michael Porter Jr. finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Utah center Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 11 rebounds after making his first All-Star team. The Jazz have dropped three straight.

Down by as many as 11 in the third quarter, the Nuggets took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish on a 3-pointer by Porter with 29.1 seconds left in the period. P.J. Dozier followed with a buzzer-beating 3 to end the third and extend the advantage.

TIP-INS

Jazz: G Mike Conley sat out as part of “injury management” due to right knee soreness. … Joe Ingles and Mitchell each had eight assists.

Nuggets: There was a scary moment in the fourth when F Torrey Craig went in for a dunk and was hit from behind by F George Niang. Craig fell awkwardly on his wrist. Niang was called for a flagrant-1 foul. … Craig had 11 rebounds.

LETTER FROM MOM

Mitchell found out he made his first All-Star team through a letter from his mom that he read on the team’s Twitter account. The opening line was, “If you’re reading this letter, it’s because you’re now an All-Star.”

Mitchell laughed and leaned back in his chair as he digested the words. He later called her.

“It’s just one of those things growing up, I didn’t expect to be in the NBA,” Mitchell said. “Such a blessing.”

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

This will be Jokic’s second All-Star appearance. Asked if his goal during the Feb. 16 game in Chicago was to play hard or have fun, Jokic responded: “To win.”

TRICKY STRETCH

Nuggets coach Mike Malone doesn’t particularly care for this back-to-back — a late televised game against Utah on Thursday, followed by a trip to Milwaukee to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Friday.

“The back-to-back is criminal,” Malone said. “Our itinerary has us arriving at the hotel at 3:30. The itinerary is never right. We’ll be in after that.

“We can’t change the schedule. Not any of the 30 NBA teams are happy with their schedule, from Game 1 to 82.”

UP NEXT

Jazz: At Portland on Saturday. Beat the Trail Blazers 121-115 at home on Dec. 26.

Nuggets: Start a two-game trip Friday in Milwaukee.