Nikola Jokic scored 30 points as the Denver Nuggets bounced back from a tough home loss to New York and a swipe from their coach to claim a 122-103 road win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.

Jokic scored 21 points in the first half, helping the Nuggets turn a 12-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead. He made 13 of 19 field goals overall and finished the game with 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Jamal Murray contributed 22 points and eight assists, Michael Porter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds and Christian Braun had 18 points with seven boards in the win.

Denver shot 54.8 percent — while Utah shot 42.2 percent — and outscored the Jazz 64-38. The result came two nights after their coach, Mike Malone, denounced their lack of effort and leadership following a 145-118 loss to the Knicks in Denver.

Collin Sexton scored 26 points and Keyonte George 23 to lead the Jazz, who couldn’t maintain their early double-digit lead.

Utah played without key players Lauri Markkanen (personal reasons), John Collins (knee) and Jordan Clarkson (foot) and lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Walker Kessler had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Micah Potter had a game-high 16 boards and nine points for the Jazz.

Utah was playing at home for the second straight season after losing to the Spurs 128-115 on Tuesday night.

Utah got off to a good start, scoring the first five points and then taking a 19-8 lead after three consecutive points from George.

Jokic sparked a rebound in Denver, helping cut Utah’s once-12-point lead to one by the end of the first quarter.

The Nuggets took a 63-53 halftime lead by outscoring the Jazz 29-18 in the second quarter, including a 6-0 run before halftime. Jokic scored 21 goals in the first half.

Denver turned it into a 13-0 run after opening the third quarter with a layup from Murray, a basket from Jokic and a three-pointer from Porter.

Utah briefly got back to within 12 points before Denver broke through with a lead of up to 26 points in the third quarter. The Nuggets outscored the Jazz 66-41 in the decisive second and third quarters.

–Field level media