Jamal Murray scored 23 points in his first game of the NBA restart, including the tying and go-ahead baskets, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 134-132 in two overtimes Saturday.
The Nuggets overcame Donovan Mitchell's 35 points for Utah, including a 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime. But he missed a desperation heave from near half-court as the game ended.
Murray, playing his first game since March 11 after missing four games with left hamstring tightness, sank a fallaway jumper for a 123-all tie and then beat the shot clock with a go-ahead 3-pointer. He had 12 rebounds and eight assists, just missing a triple-double.
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, left, drives against Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray, right, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. CoxPool Photo via AP)
Nikola Jokic scored 10 of his 30 points in the first overtime for Denver, which solidified its hold on third place in the Western Conference playoff standings.
At the start of the day, only one game separated Houston, Utah and Oklahoma City for the fourth through sixth spots in the Western Conference.
An officials review confirmed Jokic drove the baseline for a layup before the remaining 3.4 seconds expired in the first overtime, forcing the second extra period. The clock did not start on the play.
Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, left, is defended by Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr., center, and Nikola Jokic (15) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. CoxPool Photo via AP)
Mitchell drove through Denver's defensive breakdowns for a tying uncontested layup with less than 1 second remaining in regulation.
TIP INS
Jazz: Led by Jordan Clarkson, Utah made 12 of 21 3-pointers in the first half and 22 for the game. Clarkson made four of six 3s in the half and finished 5 of 9. The Jazz led 63-49 at halftime. ... Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. slam-dunks during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. CoxPool Photo via AP)
Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Jerami Grant had 21 points. ... Jokic, who had only two points in a first half, had 14 in the third quarter. He had 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Play the Mavericks on Monday.
Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. slam-dunks during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. CoxPool Photo via AP)
Nuggets: Play the Lakers on Monday.
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