WITH frontline players Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Mike Conley Jr. back in the lineup, the Utah Jazz made quick work of the host Los Angeles Lakers in the second straight matchup between the teams, prevailing 111-97 on Monday (Tuesday in Mania).
The Lakers won the opener of the two-game set 127-115 in overtime on Saturday (Sunday in Mania). With the Jazz having earned a home win over the Indiana Pacers, Utah coach Quin Snyder chose to rest three of his regulars for the first matchup against the Lakers. High-scoring Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell missed both games, though.
The Jazz never trailed, seizing control early and leading by as many as 25 points in the second half, showing why they are the leaders of the Western Conference.
With the return of Gobert, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the Jazz controlled things inside, finishing with a 52-36 advantage on points in the paint and a 42-32 rebounding edge.
Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 22 points off the bench. Joe Ingles finished with 21 points. Bojan Bogdanovic totaled 19 points, and Gobert finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Conley posted 14 points and 10 assists while teammate Royce O’Neale added 13 points and nine rebounds. All five starters finished in double figures for Utah.
Talen Horton-Tucker topped the Lakers with a career-high 24 points. Kyle Kuzma totaled 17 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dennis Schroder added 15 points apiece.
In other games, it was the Nuggets 139, Grizzlies 137 (2 OT); Pistons 109, Cavs 105; Warriors 107, Sixers 96; Bulls 102, Celtics 96; Suns 128, Bucks 127 (OT); Heat 113, Rockets 91; Wizards 119, Thunder 107; and Spurs 109, Pacers 94.
Nuggets 139, Grizzlies 137 (2 OT)
Nikola Jokic had 47 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, Will Barton scored 28 points and the host Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 139-137 in double overtime on Monday night.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points for the Nuggets, who trailed 114-102 with 3:52 left in regulation.
Denver built a five-point lead late in the second OT thanks in part to three-pointers from Jokic and Porter.
Ja Morant finished with 36 points and 12 assists, Grayson Allen scored 24 and Xavier Tillman had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Memphis. De’Anthony Melton came off the Grizzlies’ bench to score 25 points after missing eight games due to a leg injury.
