In a dramatic nuggets vs jazz showdown on March 28, 2026 (ET), the Denver Nuggets rallied from 13 down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Utah Jazz 135-129. Nikola Jokic finished with 33 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, marking his fourth straight triple-double and his 31st of the season. The win kept Denver in fourth place in the Western Conference, a game ahead of Minnesota and a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nuggets Vs Jazz — How the Rally Unfolded
Denver trailed 120-107 late in the fourth when Jokic initiated the comeback with a layup. Tim Hardaway Jr. added a 3-pointer and two free throws to cut the gap, and a Jokic turnaround and Cam Johnson 3-pointer tied the game in the closing minute. Jamal Murray and Johnson combined for four 3-pointers in the final 2: 20, with Murray sealing the victory with a long 3 with 17 seconds left. The Nuggets had opened an early 12-point lead, lost it as Utah rallied in the second quarter to tie the game 62-62 at halftime, then watched Utah pour in 43 points in the third quarter before the late surge.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Nikola Jokic, of the Denver Nuggets, delivered the statistical centerpiece: 33 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, his fourth straight triple-double and 31st this season. Jamal Murray finished with 31 points after a two-night stretch that included a season-high 53 points previously. Cam Johnson provided critical perimeter shooting down the stretch, and Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 21 points. For Utah, Kyle Filipowski, of the Utah Jazz, led the team with 25 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter when Denver mounted its comeback. Utah scored 43 in the third quarter, fueled in part by eight Denver turnovers that produced 15 points for Utah, and Jokic’s buzzer-beating 39-footer that bounced twice before falling at the end of the third signaled Denver’s resolve.
Immediate Reactions
Nikola Jokic, of the Denver Nuggets — produced a fourth straight triple-double (33-16-12) that anchored the comeback.
Jamal Murray, of the Denver Nuggets — scored 31 points and hit a crucial go-ahead 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.
Kyle Filipowski, of the Utah Jazz — led Utah with 25 points but did not score in the fourth quarter as the Jazz faltered late. The Jazz roster also was missing several key players, including Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen.
What’s Next
Denver will host Golden State on Sunday night next, carrying momentum from the comeback and Jokic’s triple-double as it defends a tight Western Conference position. Utah, which has lost 26 of its last 29, faces the immediate task of regrouping while missing key contributors. Expect both clubs to adjust rotations and strategies in the coming days as the regular season heads toward the playoffs and the nuggets vs jazz rivalry adds another late-game classic to its ledger.
