Jazz HC Will Hardy on 102-110 Loss to Nuggets: ‘A Lot of Positives'

Despite falling to the reigning champion Denver Nuggets 102-110, the Utah Jazz can still hold a moral victory based on how this team was able to compete through 48 minutes of the game. Placed against one of the strongest teams in one of the toughest atmospheres in the NBA, the Jazz held their own on Monday night.

Jazz coach Will Hardy gave support to his players after the game, telling The Salt Lake Tribune that there are still many positives to gain from their performance:

“A lot of positives to take out of this game: Obviously winning the second half, winning the third and the fourth quarter; having 19 assists in the second half; our activity defensively. I think that’s the team that we’re trying to be every day. We’ve shown flashes. Obviously, we would have preferred to win, but that’s a very, very good basketball team that we just played.”

It is a tall task for any club to walk into Denver and take home a win, let alone from a developing roster still meshing together four games into the season. This team managed to come in and make the contest competitive by limiting the Nuggets to just a single-digit win, which should be something to hold pride in.

The Jazz got some solid production from their starting frontcourt, as Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler combined for 64 points and 36 rebounds on the night, with Markkanen and Kessler earning a double-double. Guards like Talen Horton-Tucker and Collin Sexton also had positive nights on the offensive side of the ball themselves.

However, C Nikola Jokic and G Jamal Murray still did their fair share of damage, combining for 45 points and an absurd 25 total assists on the night. Coach Hardy continued to talk about the impact the duo brought to the table on Monday, praising their elite offensive ability:

“Jokic and Murray are both capable of making a lot of tough shots They put you in difficult positions, with not only their scoring but their playmaking. But I feel like our team showed what we’re capable of and now it’s about finding that consistency from the beginning of the game."

While the Jazz got outmatched in this game, they will have the chance to bounce back from their 1-3 start in their next contest against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 7 PM MT.

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