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Utah Jazz take on the Denver Nuggets

If only injuries weren’t a thing.

Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Tonight, the Utah Jazz (48-18) take on the Denver Nuggets (44-22) in a game where both teams are playing short-handed.

For Utah, both Donovan Mitchell (ankle) and Mike Conley (hamstring) are still out. With the season coming to a close, the Jazz are obviously going to be very cautious with their heath so that come playoff time, these injuries don’t linger.

On Denver’s side, they’ve unfortunately been hit with the injury-bug as a of late. Jamal Murray is out for the season with a torn ACL, both Monte Morris and Will Barton are suffering lingering hamstring injuries, PJ Dozier will be facing extend absence with a pulled groin, and Zeke Nnaji is battling a hurt ankle.

Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

After some of the most insane games in the bubble playoffs last year, losing another opportunity to watch these two teams to go at it in full-force is disappointing. The condensed season has very clearly taken a toll on guys’ bodies and watching special players like Jamal Murray suffer significant injuries is upsetting.

But, on a happier note, Udoka Azubuike is back! The rookie big-man is listed as probable for tonight’s game after recovering from a really gnarly ankle injury that he suffered in a G-League game back in March. Hopefully he has the opportunity to get some minutes here or there in these last few weeks of the season.


Game Info:

When: 7PM MDT

Where: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

TV: ATT SportsNet

Radio: 97.5 FM/1280 AM The Zone


What to watch fo:

Rudy Gobert vs. Nikola Jokić

Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

This should be a lot of fun. Currently, Nikola Jokić is having an MVP season, posting averages of 26.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. He is playing some of the most beautiful basketball I’ve seen in recent history and has turned it up a notch since Jamal Murray tore his ACL. The saying of “he’s a magician on the court” is severely overused, but in Jokić’s case, it's absolutely true.

Gobert, on the other hand, is currently putting up a historic defensive season and is well on his way towards a third DPOY award. Tonight is going to be a massive test for him and will surly be one of the most interesting match-ups we’ve watched all season.