Two underrated elite teams from the Western Conference are meeting for the first time this season as the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets play host to the second-seeded Utah Jazz.

HOME TEAM: Denver Nuggets (32-15, 18-6 at home)

The Nuggets are up-and-down as of late. They are only 3-3 in their last six games, averaging 107.5 points on 43.6%-shooting. One key stat, though, can be seen on defense, as they have compiled 10.7 SPG during that same stretch.

Nikola Jokic is again the main go-to guy while Jamal Murray is dealing with an ankle injury. The Joker is dropping 25.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and two steals in three games this past week. That trio of solid performances is what he needs as he struggled against the Jazz last season – 13.3 points on 37.3% shooting in four meetings.

Will Barton (14.7 PPG), Gary Harris (10.7 PPG), Michael Porter (15 PPG in his last eight), and Jerami Grant are the secondary options. Grant is doing a good job filling the void left by the injured Paul Millsap. He’s averaging 18.7 points in his last six games and has scored 20-plus in back-to-back contests.

ROAD TEAM: Utah Jazz (32-15, 14-11 on the road)

The Jazz have now lost two straight games following a hot run that saw them win 19 of 21 outings.  Tomorrow will also be a road game on the second night of a back-to-back, and as seen in their record, they are a terrible road team for someone who’s considered to be a serious playoff contender.

Donovan Mitchell (25 PPG) and Bojan Bogdanovic (21.2 PPG) are developing into a great backcourt and it will be interesting to them prove it tomorrow as the Jazz avoid a three-game skid. The two should be aggressive in being in sync after alternating 30-point nights in the two recent losses.

Utah’s defensive gem, Rudy Gobert, will be in a marquee match-up with Nikola Jokic. He averaged 15 points, 10 boards, and 2.5 blocks in four games against the Nuggets this past season.

Recent acquisition Jordan Clarkson is an energy off the bench. He’s been scoring well randomly and could suddenly produce. He had 20 in Thursday’s 127-120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

PREDICTION:

The two teams provide us a with a hard-fought battle. Both like to slow the pace so expect to witness a ton of half-court offense.

The Nuggets will be fresh and they’ll outlast the Jazz’s resilient effort, 108-105. Jokic will lead his crew to the W and his supporting cast will shine too.