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Shorthanded Utah Jazz Battle Denver Nuggets, Fall In Final Moments

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz’s homestand ended with one of the most memorable games of the season to this point, a narrow 128-125 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Despite the result, Utah battled until the very end, outscoring the Nuggets in the fourth quarter to hold a lead down the stretch. The performance was highlighted by 36 points from Keyonte George and relentless energy brought from Elijah Harkless in his first career start.

The Jazz will now hit the road for three games against Eastern Conference opponents later this week.

Pregame

pic.twitter.com/aKl53C8Fe3

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

dialing in 🎯 pic.twitter.com/yRVFwU7Gxo

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

FIRST CAREER START FOR @ejay_hoops2 🥳🙌🙂‍↕️#StartingLineup pic.twitter.com/KtVyQPnZw5

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

First Quarter

Cody Williams and Elijah Harkless are mucking everything up for Denver on defense.

Both have held their own in one-on-one possessions guarding Jokic.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

Elijah wasted no time wreaking havoc on defense 😈 pic.twitter.com/ddakd50JYk

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Nikola Jokic just fell on top of Keyonte George, and kind of just stayed there, and it took Key a minute to get up.

Weird play, and Key looked a little shaken up.

Jazz bench was shocked that there was no call.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

Gold medalists Kaila Kuhn and Quinn Dehlinger are inside Delta Center taking in tonight’s @utahjazz game. pic.twitter.com/oRkMbBh0MC

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

sharin’ the sugar and throwin’ it down 😌 pic.twitter.com/V9sDlSyGST

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

float on, Key ☁️🔑☁️ pic.twitter.com/FlQueZz1yg

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

John Konchar checks in and buries back-to-back triples.

He’s shot just 2/16 from deep since arriving in Utah. Big for him to see some go down.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

Jitty threes 🕺 >>> pic.twitter.com/fesAvL6RTN

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

three ball? 𝐀𝐜𝐞𝐝 it ♠️♠️♠️ pic.twitter.com/azbS823pjz

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Ace Bailey played 10 minutes in the first, and leads the team with 7 points on 50% shooting.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

The @utahjazz take a 34-33 lead over the @nuggets heading into the second quarter.

Jazz have knocked down 13-24 from the floor and have forced 6 Nuggets turnovers. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/XKJKVNnzI2

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

Second Quarter

It’s been this way for a few weeks now, but the Nuggets just look sloppy.

They’ve made some shots but nothing looks fluid.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

there’s fast, then there’s Zay 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/f2bEyKrqPE

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

The Jazz are throwing small players on Jokic then surrounding him with help whenever he touches the ball.

Nuggets are still scoring well, but Jokic is really having to work hard, even off the ball, to be involved in any action.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

make it 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆-𝙏𝙊-𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 from deep for Brice 🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/XUONAWq4cn

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

floater: 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 🔓🔑 pic.twitter.com/8QkoWv566p

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

KEY BUZZER-BEATER TO GIVE US THE LEAD AT THE HALF 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/QimOtO6fVJ

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

After shaking the rust off in his first game back on Saturday, Keyonte has got it going here in the first half against Denver.

14 points on 67% shooting with two steals.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

Been a little curious how Keyonte George would play late in the season without some of the traditional starters in the lineup, namely Lauri Markkanen.

He’s 6-9 for 14 points in the first half.

Seems to be doing fine. pic.twitter.com/GQa31yiinH

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

Keyonte George has hit some TOUGH shots tonight, including that buzzer-beater to send the Jazz into the half with the lead, 67-66.

He’s got 14 points to lead the Jazz. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/LOgDuFBQ67

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

got a good one goin’! pic.twitter.com/XtE1oUUO1a

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Third Quarter

Keyonte George’s evolution as an on-court coach is one of my favorite parts of his leap.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

PUT THE CLAMPS ON HIM @ejay_hoops2 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/GZp1f1lsDs

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

let. Key. COOK! 👨‍🍳

he’s up to 21 points! 🔑 pic.twitter.com/Jy3amlBKHz

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

catch ya on the Flip side 😎 pic.twitter.com/Xk3THAvtAa

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Through three, the @Utahjazz trail the @nuggets 100-93.

Jamal Murray has been in championship form, leading all scorers with 35 points and 8 assists. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/HR6AIzrz4w

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

feelin’ like a buckle up kinda night 👀 pic.twitter.com/udGlYpBEDb

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Fourth Quarter

you already know, it’s Tshiebwe or the highway 🛣️ pic.twitter.com/HBVCbCixGr

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Midway through the fourth, the @utahjazz trail the @nuggets 108-100.

Nuggets can’t quite put the Jazz away here. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/EGUshO1AF0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

pump fake: A+ ✅

corner Svi: A+ ✅ pic.twitter.com/ZXqlRBftyA

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

That was amazing Keyonte George.

He’s giving the Nuggets everything they can handle.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

the step back is FILTHY 😮‍💨

Key’s up to 26 👀 pic.twitter.com/pUDafKBHo5

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

GET IN YOUR BAG, KEY! 😤 pic.twitter.com/jJrCqczM7h

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Keyonte George is too good to mess around with now.

Nuggets played with their food for 36 minutes and didn’t seem to realize that the Jazz can hurt you now when George is on the floor. https://t.co/7ypcY9ycWh

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

KEY’S POPPIN’ OFF AND D-WADE IS LOVING IT 🔑⚡️ pic.twitter.com/3gi4JgmFrx

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

IT’S KEY’S WORLD AND WE’RE JUST LIVING IN IT 🤩 pic.twitter.com/eSln9B9IqS

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

🗣️ AND ONEEE!!! pic.twitter.com/2lICpKZJzD

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Jamal Murray 45 points. Keyonte George 36 points.

I’m getting 2020 Bubble flashbacks.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) March 3, 2026

126-125 Denver

4Q | 30.3 | OUR BALL!

Tune in NOW on KJZZ and JAZZ+ 📺#TakeNote

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Call overturned!

It’ll be Nuggets ball, with a one point lead and 16 seconds remaining.

Great game at Delta Center tonight.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

The @nuggets outlast the @utahjazz 128-125.

Great battle between Keyonte George and Jamal Murray.

Murray finishes with 45, while George added 36 in the loss.#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/mGdtpywLUa

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2026

Great game.

Suspect we’ll see a lot more of those next season.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 3, 2026

💔 pic.twitter.com/lipkVymKn7

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2026

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

All Jazz games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) will also pick up games.

Utah Jazz fans can watch the team’s games next season for free over the air on KJZZ TV and can stream the games through a paid streaming-based platform on the team’s website. KJZZ is currently broadcast on channel 14.1.

Find all of our Utah Jazz coverage here.

Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on* 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone . Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram *@BensHoops, or on BlueSky.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of theJazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer forKSLSports.com. FollowChandler on Xfor Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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