Jazz had to use unique lineups in the loss to Denver

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz had a unique challenge on Wednesday.

Even at full strength, no one would argue that the Jazz are one of the most talented groups in the NBA. They were far from that against the Denver Nuggets.

Utah was without its regular starting forward duo Lauri Markkanen (personal reasons) and John Collins (left knee contusion), as well as Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) and Kyle Filipowski (lower leg inflammation).

“We’re going to play some lineups tonight that none of us have seen in this room,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “We’re going to play some lineups tonight that maybe none of us in this room have thought of. But in a way these evenings are fun because we can express our creativity as a team and as a team.”

The first of these line-ups was the first that jazz brought to the market. Utah started Micah Potter (playing in his first game of the year) and Svi Mykhailiuk – and that was just the beginning of the…er, fun?

The makeshift lineups made for some interesting moments — the Jazz jumped out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter and staged a semi-comeback late — but the outcome was predictable. The Nuggets defeated the heavily undermanned Jazz 122-103 on Wednesday at the Delta Center.

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Denver.

After some hot shooting helped Utah to a 26-14 lead, Denver used a 23-9 run to get back into the contest. The Nuggets then went on a 21-4 run between the end of the first half and the start of the second half and finally pulled away.

But in the midst of it all, there were some career games for guys at the end of the Utah bench — if they’re on the bench at all.

Potter had 9 points and 16 rebounds, the highest of his career, and Oscar Tshiebwe had 3 points and 9 rebounds, the highest of his career, in his Jazz debut.

This story will be updated.