The Denver Nuggets travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on Tuesday.

The Nuggets (2-1) started the season with two crucial wins over the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs but followed it up with a dud on Monday. They actually trailed for all but one minute in that 99-87 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, getting very little help outside of Nikola Jokic. That's the one major issue with this club with Jamal Murray out, and it's a wonder who will step up going forward. Players like Monte Morris, Will Barton, and Michael Porter have stepped up in the past, but all of those guys have shown inconsistencies this season. It's up to these players to figure things out because Murray isn't walking through that door anytime soon.

The Jazz (2-0) had the best record in the NBA last season, and they're one of the only clubs that still holds an undefeated record this year. Beating the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder is nothing to write home about but taking care of business against the bad teams is what makes this Utah club so dangerous. The defense is the thing that has carried this club in the past, and holding both of those opponents below 105 points is a good sign that everything is clicking as it should be. What remains to be seen is if this club can thrive in the postseason. They collapsed when it mattered most, and many people aren't so sure they have what it takes to get through those tough opponents.

These teams played three times last season, with Utah winning two of three. Denver actually swept the three-game season series the year prior, with Denver also prevailing in the postseason.