Jazz vs Nuggets Game 3 Odds, Lines and Spread

• Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets play Game 3 of their first round series on Friday with tip-off at 4:00pm EST
• The series is tied at 1-1 after a comfortable Jazz win in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon
• Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick below

The Utah Jazz bounced back in Game 2 after an overtime loss in Game 1 to tie the series. It was an emphatic blowout for the Jazz, riding big nights from Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson. After a spectacular fourth quarter in Game 1, Utah held Jamal Murray to just 14 points in the following game.

This is a very competitive series between two teams who often fly under the radar. Friday’s game presents a big opportunity to take the upper hand.

The latest Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets odds are in the table below. FanDuel currently has the Nuggets as two-point favorites.

Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets Game 3 Odds

Odds taken August 20th

Mike Conley Returns

Adrian Wojnarowksi reported that Mike Conley could return for Game 3 after leaving the Orlando bubble to attend the birth of his son. If Conley returns four negative tests in time, he will be available for Game 3.

It was impressive that the Jazz won so convincingly without Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, but they will be delighted to welcome back the veteran point guard.

Juwan Morgan started Game 2, but only played 14 minutes. He will likely be the player to make way for Conley should he return in time, pushing everyone up a position.

Donovan Mitchell can’t wait for Mike Conley to clear quarantine. 😂 pic.twitter.com/JoKvvtD9l2

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 20, 2020

Conley had a difficult first few months with the Jazz. He started to find some rhythm before the season’s hiatus, however, and he looked good in the seeding games. Conley’s return should take some of the ball handling and playmaking burden off of Donovan Mitchell.

Nuggets Perimeter Defense

Will Barton has left the bubble to deal with a knee injury. There is still no timetable for the return of Gary Harris, either.

Denver is depleted on the perimeter, and it’s been showing on the defensive end. The Jazz shot 45.5% as a team from three in Game 2 and got up 44 attempts from beyond the arc, well above their regular season average of 35.2.

Come back stronger, Will Barton 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eJkCVgGQCH

— Nuggets Nation (@NuggetsNationCP) August 19, 2020

Jamal Murray is an average defender. Michael Porter Jr. is struggling at that end of the floor, too often getting blown by and frequently looking lost. Paul Millsap cannot keep up with perimeter players in the same way any more.

Denver is vulnerable to smaller lineups, and with Conley returning, the Jazz have another perimeter threat. They are unlikely to shoot the ball quite as well as they did in Game 2, but they will continue to generate good looks from outside unless there’s a marked defensive improvement from the Nuggets.

Murray’s Inconsistency

Murray’s duel with Mitchell in Game 1 was playoff basketball at its best. Two young stars going head-to-head down the stretch, both making seemingly every shot they took. It was phenomenal to watch.

Mitchell dropped 30 in Game 2. Murray, after his 36 points and six threes in the opener, was held to 14 points in 30 minutes. He turned the ball over three times. Inconsistency has been the limiting factor in Murray’s career to date. The performances like Game 1 show the player he can be, but they are too often followed up by outings like Game 2.

Mike Malone needs Murray and Porter Jr. to deliver in this series. Nikola Jokic cannot do it all.

Jazz Look Good Value

After such a comprehensive win in Game 2, it’s a surprise to see Utah as underdogs. Denver don’t seem to have an answer for Mitchell.

Malone needs to get creative on the defensive end and should bring Jerami Grant into the starting lineup. As much as their perimeter defense needs to improve, though, they are relying on a rookie and a notoriously inconsistent scorer to support Jokic offensively.

The Jazz moneyline at +110 looks a good bet even if Conley isn’t available.

Pick: Utah Jazz moneyline (+110)