Collin Sexton misses first recreation of the season in spirited loss to Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY — Will Hardy did not want many phrases.

When requested if he had the identical sense of disappointment that Collin Sexton was feeling on Tuesday, the Jazz coach somberly mentioned, “Very. Yeah, very.”

Sexton missed his first recreation of the season in Utah’s 111-95 loss to the Denver Nuggets. It was an sickness that stored him out and ended his season-long objective of enjoying all 82 video games.

“It’s going to imply loads,” mentioned Sexton simply final week. “It undoubtedly means loads to me — far more than many individuals will perceive. That is my objective; 82 is my objective.”

It was his objective due to what had occurred the final two seasons; he was restricted to simply 11 video games resulting from a season-ending knee damage in 2021-22. And final season, he performed solely 48 video games as he handled hamstring points.

How sturdy is Sexton’s drive to play? He labored tirelessly within the closing months of final season simply so he may play one recreation within the closing week.

So whilst his veteran teammates joined the damage report over the previous few weeks, he stored on enjoying.

He got here up simply in need of his objective.

“Having the season he had final 12 months, for him to return again and play 82 was a objective,” guard Talen Horton-Tucker mentioned. “You at all times need your teammates to achieve their targets, however figuring out that the best way the season goes and figuring out accidents presently are pricey. So, you kinda simply wish to go the sensible means about it. Clearly, I wished him to play 82, however I need him to be wholesome, too.”

Luka Samanic did not elaborate a lot however mentioned he may inform Sexton was upset about lacking the sport.

Sexton’s absence was the most recent addition to a seemingly rising Jazz damage report; Utah was additionally with out Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Kris Dunn, John Collins and Walker Kessler.

Bear in mind the 15-4 run the Jazz had earlier within the season? Keyonte George was the one rotation participant from that stretch who suited up on Tuesday towards the defending champions.

When Denver coach Michael Malone was requested in regards to the Jazz’s prolonged damage report earlier than tipoff, he gave a little bit of a warning to his crew.

“That is an audition not only for the Jazz however for each different NBA crew,” he mentioned of the seldom-used gamers who have been in for heavy minutes. “So if you get guys who’re auditioning for his or her livelihood, you get a spirited effort. So it is probably not about who’s out there, who’s not out there. … This place, we’ve one win right here since 2015. So I do not care who’s enjoying for them, we have got to discover a option to get a win.”

The Nuggets did simply that — it simply ended up being a bit harder than anticipated, particularly contemplating who the Jazz have been operating on the market.

Utah relied on a handful of gamers whose NBA futures are unsure following Sunday. Gamers like Samanic, Johnny Juzang, Darius Bazley, Omer Yurtseven and even Horton-Tucker.

But, it was that group who performed probably the most aggressive recreation the Jazz have had this month.

Horton-Tucker, who had 24 factors, hit a 3-pointer late within the third quarter that introduced the Jazz inside 3 factors of the defending champions and was the catalyst to get the Jazz again within the recreation following one more sluggish begin (the Nuggets jumped out to a 17-point lead within the opening minutes).

“For a majority of the sport, he was our greatest participant,” Hardy mentioned.

Samanic had 15 factors and 10 rebounds, and was the participant Hardy wished to make use of to punish mismatches within the publish late within the recreation. He scored twice in a row, however then the Jazz went away from him — one thing Hardy mentioned was a studying expertise for the younger crew.

Bazley had some sturdy protection moments, and Yurtseven had 20 factors and 11 rebounds in an admirable efficiency towards MVP favourite Nikola Jokic (he had 28 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists).

After getting down large early, Utah slowly minimize into the benefit over the second quarter. The Jazz have been inside 5 simply earlier than halftime and stored issues inside single digits for a lot of the second half.

However about midway by the fourth quarter, Jamal Murray had seen sufficient.

The guard drained three straight 3-pointers en path to a 13-2 Denver run that allowed the Nuggets to drag away for good and handed Utah its thirteenth straight loss.

The Jazz have three video games left within the season.