DENVER — The Pepsi Center hoops appeared to be bigger than the ones at Staples Center.

Unfortunately for the Utah Jazz, that went both ways.

A night after their offense was nowhere to be found in a lopsided loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz hit some shots and scored just fine.

But their defense disappeared.

Rotations, team help, effort and any chance at winning all evaporated in the thin Mile High air on Wednesday night, too.

The result was another embarrassing 117-100 blowout — this one by the Denver Nuggets.

“We have to get better. … We’ve had two tough losses,” said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin, whose team lost by an average 21 points in back-to-back nights. “We’ve got to get back together and continue to work and fight. We’ve got to learn to trust each other on the defensive end of the floor and get it figured out.”

Utah did hit 48 percent of its field goals in Denver’s building after missing a whopping 61 shots while shooting 32 percent against the Lakers in an awful offensive showing, so there’s that.

But Denver had its way with Utah’s restructured defense, which resembled a church-ball team.

The Jazz gave up 68 points in the paint, allowed Nene to score 25 points, watched Andre Miller dish out 12 assists and Al Harrington drop in 18 points off the bench, cranked their necks as speedy Ty Lawson burst to the hoop time after time, helplessly permitted the Nuggets to shoot a sizzling 53.5 percent, and let the home track team run and jump all over, around and above them.

That was one long paragraph — and an even longer night — for a deficient defense.

Giving up lobs, drives, backdoor cuts and transition baskets disgusted Corbin.

“That’s unacceptable,” he said. “That’s just effort. That’s disappointing.”

The second-year coach had a longer-than-usual postgame chat with his team, taking an extra 10 minutes or so to try to impress on them the need to play harder and together.

Sure, they’re a work in progress. They’ve got an odd mix of inexperienced talent and capable veterans. But they lack an identity and consistency, with the offense and defense trading turns at stinking it up.

“We’ve got to get things figured out quickly,” Corbin said. “The effort we got for the most part today wasn’t satisfactory, so we wanted to have a discussion about it.”

Things started somewhat promising for Utah, which is in the midst of a rough six-games-in-eight-nights stretch.

Center Al Jefferson scored 10 of his team-best 19 points in the first quarter after missing 14 of 16 shots against the Lakers. But Utah’s starting five of Devin Harris, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Big Al still didn’t completely click, falling behind 28-23 after the first 12 minutes.

Denver • QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS

The First: Nuggets 28, Jazz 23

Al Jefferson starts smooth, scoring eight of Utah’s first 10 points. Ty Lawson speeds the game up, though, and the Nuggets’ offense starts to take control midway through the period.

The Second: Nuggets 63, Jazz 46

Denver misses eight 3-point attempts to open the game, and back-to-back 3s by Devin Harris pull the Jazz within 44-40. The Nuggets go on a 21-6 run, though, closing the half strong.

The Third: Nuggets 88, Jazz 66

Utah’s porous defense bottoms out, with Denver easily zipping by for free open looks at the basket. The Jazz defend neither the paint nor the perimeter, and the Nuggets go up by 22.

The Fourth: Nuggets 117, Jazz 100

Story continues below

Alec Burks scores eight quick points and runs the floor with confidence. However, the Jazz’s defense never shows up and Utah sends in its reserves during garbage time.

Jazz-Nuggets matchup box

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Denver • QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS

The First: Nuggets 28, Jazz 23

Al Jefferson starts smooth, scoring eight of Utah’s first 10 points. Ty Lawson speeds the game up, though, and the Nuggets’ offense starts to take control midway through the period.

The Second: Nuggets 63, Jazz 46

Denver misses eight 3-point attempts to open the game, and back-to-back 3s by Devin Harris pull the Jazz within 44-40. The Nuggets go on a 21-6 run, though, closing the half strong.

The Third: Nuggets 88, Jazz 66

Utah’s porous defense bottoms out, with Denver easily zipping by for free open looks at the basket. The Jazz defend neither the paint nor the perimeter, and the Nuggets go up by 22.

The Fourth: Nuggets 117, Jazz 100

Story continues below

Alec Burks scores eight quick points and runs the floor with confidence. However, the Jazz’s defense never shows up and Utah sends in its reserves during garbage time.

Jazz-Nuggets matchup box

http://bit.ly/vaHvTm

Jazz-Nuggets game preview box

http://bit.ly/vl3TaO

Follow the in-game live chat at http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/53194593-77/story.csp

Twitter: @tribjazz

Next Page »

SALT LAKE CITY – The Jazz schedule has been released and
with two fewer months and only 16 fewer games the season
will come and go quickly. The Jazz will play back-to-back
18 times (they only had 13 back-to-back games last year)
along with one
brutal back-to-back-to-back. They begin the season with
some conference rivals and end the season on a nice home
stretch.

Some interesting quirks of this season are: The Jazz will
be the last team to start their season. The Hawks will
also play their first game on Dec. 27, but they will start
earlier in the day. The first five games will be against
playoff teams last year: Lakers, Nuggets, 76ers, Spurs and
Hornets.

The Jazz will only play three games on the road in
January, the lowest amount of road games in a full month
of play since February of 2009 when they again played
three. They will play three division opponents in January.
The Jazz only have six home games in February, the lowest
amount in any full month this season.

The Jazz play the Blazers three times in April. They will
play the Lakers, Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento, Dallas
and Golden State four times. They play division opponents
Denver, Oklahoma
City and Minnesota three times.

Here is a look at some highlights of the schedule that
Jazz fans can look forward to:

Dec. 27: The season starts with the Jazz visiting
the Lakers on Dec. 27. It will be the Lakers third game
and the tail end of their back-to-back-to-back.

Dec. 28: The Jazz play the Nuggets for the first
time this season.

Jan. 3: Former Ute Andrew Bogut and the Bucks play
in Energy Solutions Arena.

Jan. 11: The Jazz will play Kobe and the Lakers for
the
first time in Utah.

Jan. 14: Deron Williams comes back to town with the
Nets.

Jan. 21: Jazz will play division Timberwolves at
home.

Jan. 28: Jimmer will return to the Utah twice in
the new schedule, Jan. 28 and March 30. The Jazz will play
the Kings in Sacramento Feb. 28 and March 22.

Jan. 30: Wes Matthews will come back with the
Trailblazers for the first time this season.

Feb. 10: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook bring
the Thunder to Energy Solutions Arena for the first
matchup between the division teams. They will play again
four days later in Oklahoma.

Feb. 12-14: The Jazz play their back-to-back-to-
back as they travel to Memphis, New Orleans and Oklahoma
City.

Feb. 29: They will play on Leap Day for the second
straight Leap Year. They play Houston at home. They lost
last time 110-98 in New Orleans.

March 2: LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh
bring the Miami Heat to Utah.

March 3-10: The Jazz play five-straight road games,
the longest of the season. They visit Dallas, Cleveland,
Charlotte, Philadelphia and Chicago. Last season they had
one such streak and went 0-5.

March 10: The Jazz play their lone game against
Carlos Boozer and the Bulls in Chicago.

March 30: The second time Jimmer returns to Utah.

Apr. 8-9: The Jazz play the Spurs two nights in a
row, at San Antonio then at home. They have play one team
two
games in a row every year since the ’06-’07 season.

Apr. 13-14: The last back-to-back of the season, at
New Orleans and at Memphis.

Apr. 18: Final road game of the season at Portland.

Apr. 26: Final game of the regular season home
against Portland.

UTAH JAZZ REGULAR- SEASON SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Dec. 27 at Lakers #8:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 at Nuggets 7 p.m.

Dec. 30 vs 76ers 7 p.m.

Dec. 31 at Spurs

6:30 p.m.

Jan. 2 vs Hornets 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 vs Bucks 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 vs Grizzlies 7 p.m.

Jan. 7 at Warriors 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 vs Cavaliers 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 vs Lakers 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 vs Nets

7 p.m.

Jan. 15 at Nuggets 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs Clippers 7 p.m.

Jan. 19 vs Mavericks #8:30 p.m.

Jan. 21 vs T-wolves 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 vs Raptors 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Mavericks 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 vs Kings

7 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs Blazers 7 p.m.

Feb. 1 vs Clippers* 8:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 at Warriors 8:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 vs Lakers 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 at Knicks

5:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 at Pacers 5 p.m.

Feb. 10 vs Thunder* 8:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 at Grizzlies* 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 at Hornets 6 p.m.

Feb. 14 at Thunder 6 p.m.

Feb. 17 vs Wizards 7 p.m.

Feb. 19 at Rockets 5 p.m.

Feb. 20 vs Spurs 7 p.m.

Feb. 22 at T-Wolves 6 p.m.

Feb. 28 at Kings 8 p.m.

Feb. 29 vs Rockets 7 p.m.

March 2 vs Heat 7 p.m.

March 3 at Mavericks 6:30 p.m.

March 5 at Cavaliers 5 p.m.

March 7 at Bobcats 5 p.m.

March 9 at 76ers 5 p.m.

March 10 at Bulls 6 p.m.

March 12 vs Pistons 7 p.m.

March 14 at Suns* 8:30 p.m.

March 15 vs T-Wolves 7 p.m.

March 17 vs Warriors 7 p.m.

March 18 at Lakers 7:30 p.m.

March 20 vs Thunder 7 p.m.

March 22 at Kings 8 p.m.

March 23 vs Nuggets* 8:30 p.m.

March 25 at Hawks 4 p.m.

March 26 at Nets 5:30 p.m.

March 28 at Celtics 5:30 p.m.

March 30 vs Kings 7 p.m.

March 31 at Clippers 8:30 p.m.

April 2 at Blazers 8 p.m.

April 4 vs Suns 7 p.m.

April 6 vs Warriors 7 p.m.

April 8 at Spurs 5 p.m.

April 9 vs Spurs 7 p.m.

April 11 at Rockets 6 p.m.

April 13 at Hornets 6 p.m.

April 14 at Grizzlies 6 p.m.

April 16 vs Mavericks 7 p.m.

April 18 at Blazers 8 p.m.

April 21 vs Magic* 8:30 p.m.

April 24 vs Suns 7 p.m.

April 26 vs Blazers 6 p.m.

*= ESPN

= NBA TV

#=TNT