Utah Jazz: Fall apart in opener

But with Williams watching from the bench with three fouls at the start of the last quarter, the Nuggets began to pull away from the Jazz.

Denver scored the first nine points of the quarter to go up 91-80, part of a decisive 14-2 Nuggets run late in the third and early in the fourth.

"It tough," Williams said. "I went to the bench, it was 82-80; I came back in, it was (89-80) and we just never really could get anything going from there."

NOTES: Combo guard Ronnie Price, who missed the Jazz's last four preseason games with a strained hamstring, entered at shooting guard behind starter Brewer. Price also was first at the point, over rookie Eric Maynor, behind Williams. ... Boozer was 1-for-8 from the floor in the first half, when he only scored three points. ... Kirilenko caught an elbow in the mouth from a driving Anthony late in the third quarter, but he stayed in the game. ... All 11 healthy Jazz players appeared in Wednesday's game. ... Denver made its morning shootaround optional because of the area's inclement weather, and starting shooting guard Anthony Carter was the only Nugget to show. ... The Jazz play their home opener Friday night vs. the Los Angeles Clippers at EnergySolutions Arena.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com