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The Utah Jazz have to be admired (pitied?) for at least one thing: the lack of healthy wide bodies. Usually, if you’re a playoff team and your big men are benched long-term because of injury, the chances of surviving the playoffs are slim and none.

Nonetheless, the Jazz were without the services of Andrei Kirilenko (calf) and Mehmet Okur (torn Achilles tendon) – with Okur out for the playoffs and Kirilenko for this series. Their absence would be sorely tested as the Jazz were at Pepsi Center to take on the Denver Nuggets Monday night.

Fortunately for the Jazz, they have Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer on their roster; both would come up big as Williams and Boozer combined for 53 points, leading Utah past Denver 114-111 and tying their best-of-7 series at 1 game each.

The Jazz shot 68 percent in the first half  and took a 63-51  lead after closing the half with a 17-3 run; Boozer had four baskets during the run while Wesley Matthews drained a three-pointer. Suffice it to say, the Nuggets’ fans in attendance were not pleased.

Trailing by 12, the Nuggets languished  through the first seven minutes of the third quarter, falling behind 76-62 on Boozer’s put-back dunk before using a 14-0 blitz to tie things up. Williams ended a Jazz scoring drought with a pair of free throws, and Utah recovered to take an 88-82 lead gong into the fourth quarter, thanks to three Kyle Korver jumpers in the final 90 seconds of the period.

A controversial call took place at around the 25-second mark of the final period when Carmelo Anthony was whistled for his sixth personal foul; as things appeared, the Jazz’ C.J. Miles had stepped out of bounds before Anthony touched him. Apparently, the officials didn’t notice that oversight and as a result, Miles converted both free throws, giving Utah a 110-107 lead. Utah would hang on for the win.

Williams led the Jazz with 33 points (including 3 three pointers), 2 rebounds, 14 assists, a steal and a block while Boozer poured in 20 with 15 rebounds and 2 assists; Paul Millsap chipped in 18 with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Miles contributed 17 with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block.

The Nuggets were led by Anthony with 32 points, 6 assists, 4 assists and 3 steals while Nene Hilario added 18 with 6 rebounds and 2 steals; Chauncey Billups chipped in 17 with 3 rebounds and 11 assists while Kenyon Martin poured in 15 with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. 

The series, tied at one game each, now returns to Energy Solutions Arena on Friday night as Utah hosts Denver with a 10:30 PM tip-off time.