Bold takeaway: Jamal Murray exploded for 45 points and nailed the decisive free throws with 31.8 seconds left, lifting the Denver Nuggets to a 128-125 comeback win over a shorthanded Utah Jazz. But here’s where it gets controversial… Utah’s Keyonte George battled hard in his return, scoring 36 and nearly flipping the script with a late chance that Nikola Jokic’s sixth foul was controversially overturned from a shooting foul to a blocked shot after a lengthy review.
In the end, Jokic logged 22 points and 12 rebounds, sinking two crucial free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining as the Nuggets held on. George’s late dunk at 2:13 gave Utah a brief 122-118 advantage, but Murray caught fire in the third quarter, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 18 points while Jokic rested on the bench. Murray finished 13-of-19 from the floor with eight 3s and seven turnovers, a high-variance but game-changing line.
The Jazz, missing Lauri Markkanen and most rotation regulars due to injury, kept the pressure on Denver throughout and never allowed the Nuggets’ lead to reach double digits. Key contributors for Utah included Kyle Filipowski with 19 points and Ace Bailey with 18, as Utah dropped their sixth straight game.
For Denver, Julian Strawther contributed 15 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 13, helping compensate for a late-game dip in energy after a back-to-back to open the stretch. Cam Johnson was a late scratch due to a ankle injury, affecting Utah’s depth in a tightly contested matchup.
Upcoming schedules:
- Denver hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
- Utah visits the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Note: This recap mirrors Associated Press reporting on the game, originally published March 2, 2026, with emphasis on the key moments, player performances, and turning points that defined the 128-125 Nuggets victory."}
