The Nuggets-Jazz rivalry has turned into Nuggets-Clippers.
Annually, division rivals Denver and Utah slug it out, back and forth, but after Sunday night’s 119-112 win, the Nuggets neatly tied up the tiebreaker with their division-title contender, winning the first three games against the Jazz this season.
The Jazz entered the game just 2 1/2 games behind Denver in the Northwest Division and winner of its past four games, but Utah was just 7-11 away from the friendly confines of Energy Solutions Arena.
The Nuggets led by 15 points midway in the third quarter, but led by just four after three. They pulled away in the third thanks, in part, to the timely scoring of Carmelo Anthony (37 total points). Anthony went into the locker room at halftime with a pedestrian eight points, but in the third quarter, he rediscovered his aggressiveness. He poured in 12 points during those 12 minutes.
For the first time since Dec. 16, all the Nuggets were healthy, a good turn of events.
Denver pounced on the Jazz in the season opener Oct. 28 and then at Utah on Jan. 2 without Anthony or Chauncey Billups, a impressive win that coach George Karl called one of his favorites of the season. The two play each other again just once in the regular season — Feb. 6 at Utah.
