The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets were barely recognizable in their most recent games.
The Nuggets (52-28), who suffered a 119-115 defeat at Phoenix on Thursday, did not field a single starter.
The No. 1 seed was already theirs for the Western Conference, so the group gave debilitated Nikola Jokic (calf), Aaron Gordon (shoulder), Michael Watchman Jr. (heel), Jamal Murray (thumb) and Kentavioius Caldwell-Pope (disease) the night off against the Suns.
In Utah, on the other hand, the Jazz (36-44) were eliminated from contention for the postseason in their 114-98 home defeat of the Oklahoma City Thunder with a slew of injured players.
Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle), Jordan Clarkson (finger), Walker Kessler (concussion), and Lauri Markkanen (hand) were not able to play. After returning from an extended absence for one game earlier in the week, reserve Rudy Gay (back) was also out. Collin Sexton (hamstring) sat.
It’s not clear who will play in the Utah-Denver game on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City because there is nothing at stake. This is especially true when you consider that the Nuggets could use some rest more than a win and that the Jazz could improve their draft position with a loss.
In the game against Phoenix, Bruce Brown scored 31 points, beating out the depleted Denver team. Reggie Jackson added 20 points, and DeAndre Jordan scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Nuggets pushed the Suns and were neck and neck until Chris Paul hit his seventh 3-pointer of his career with a few minutes left to gain some separation, even without their starters.
After Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded in the offseason, the Jazz, who have frequently played with a rotating lineup, performed admirably against the hungry Thunder. After reversing a 16-point deficit in the first half, Utah simply did not have enough in the final quarter.
With two games remaining in the regular season, that put an end to the team’s unlikely bid for the postseason.
After Oklahoma City regained its significant lead in the fourth quarter, the biggest question for the Jazz in the final minutes was whether or not Kelly Olynyk would record the team’s first regular-season triple-double since Carlos Boozer did so in 2008.
With a few minutes remaining, Olynyk left the game with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.
