NBA Recap: Burks’ Career-High Help Jazz Fend Off Nuggets
Alec Burks scored career high 34 points and Derrick Favors racked up 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Utah Jazz blasted the Denver Nuggets, 118-103, on Tuesday at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah Jazz.
The Jazz captured their 13th victory of the season behind a career night from their third-year shooting guard. Burks shot 13-for-19 from the field and went perfect from the free-throw line (8 for 8) to lead his team against a playoff-tested team like the Nuggets.
Favors recorded another double-double night, while Trey Burke (18 points and 8 assists), Richard Jefferson (16 points), and Enes Kanter (11 points) all put in key contributions in the match.
Ty Lawson had 23 points and 11 assists, while his backup Evan Fournier tallied 16 points off the bench, though their effort was not enough to stop the Jazz onslaught.
The Nuggets are one game above .500 at 19-18 and 8-10 on the road, while the Jazz improved to 13-for-26 this season.
ESPN Stats Info: Jazz vs. Nuggets
MVP: In his fifth career start, Alec Burks attacked the basket throughout the game, accumulating a career-high 34 points and showing an ability to lead the offense in swingman Gordon Hayward's absence.
X factor: Utah won because of its offensive explosion in the first half, scoring a season-high 67 points. The impressive output was largely due to ball control; Utah had just one turnover in the first 33 minutes.