Jazz vs Clippers Pacific Division Rivalry

Lore & Background

Prior to joining the NBA, the Denver Nuggets were an ABA franchise from 1967–1976, and joining them in the league was the Utah Stars, a franchise that started as the Anaheim Amigos then renamed themselves the Los Angeles Stars, before moving to Utah in 1970. In the ABA, the two franchises formed a rivalry due to their proximity. The Nuggets won ABA championships in 1970 and 1975, while the Stars won in 1971. The two teams played each other in the 1974 ABA playoffs, a series the Nuggets won in six games. Professional basketball returned to Salt Lake City when the New Orleans Jazz of the NBA relocated there in 1979. The first playoff meeting was in 1984, won by the Jazz in five games. The second playoff meeting was in 1985, won by the Nuggets in five games. The third playoff meeting was in 1994, won by the Jazz in seven games. The fourth playoff meeting was in 2020, won by the Nuggets in seven games after coming back from a 3–1 deficit.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry has featured four playoff series: 1984 (Jazz won 3–2), 1985 (Nuggets won 4–1), 1994 (Jazz won 4–3), and 2020 (Nuggets won 4–3). The 2020 series was played entirely at the NBA Bubble at Walt Disney World due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Game 4 of that series, Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray each scored 50 and 51 points, respectively, the first playoff game in NBA history with two 50-point scorers.

Did You Know?

• The Nuggets became the 12th team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 deficit in the 2020 series.
• John Stockton, future all-time NBA assist leader, debuted for the Jazz in the 1985 playoff series against the Nuggets.