Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, goes up to shoot over Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio, back left, of Spain, and forward Thabo Sefolosha, of Switzerland, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — Trey Lyles scored a career-high 26 points, Jamal Murray also had 26 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 99-91 on Friday night.
Lyles also grabbed seven rebounds. He averaged 21 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two home games against his former team to help the Nuggets split the season series with the Jazz. Denver outscored the Jazz 38-16 in the third quarter after trailing by three at halftime.
Donovan Mitchell had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Ricky Rubio also scored 15 points and Derrick Favors had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Utah. The Jazz have lost 12 of 15 since starting the season 13-11.
The game was tied at 56 when Murray hit a 3-pointer, was fouled and made the free throw to start a 20-5 Denver run. Nikola Jokic, who missed his first four shots of the third quarter, capped the run with his first 3-pointer to give the Nuggets a 76-61 lead with 3:37 left in the third.
Lyles converted a three-point play to extend the lead to 17, and Will Barton’s 3-pointer in the final minute of the period gave Denver an 84-65 lead heading into the fourth.
The lead was 21 early in the fourth before Utah made a run to close within eight in the final minute.