DENVER (Interstat) — The surging Denver Nuggets, owners of the Western Conference’s second-best record, host the struggling Utah Jazz on Monday night at Ball Arena in a matchup of teams on opposite trajectories. The Nuggets (20-7) look to rebound from a surprising 115-101 home loss to Houston on Saturday, which snapped a six-game winning streak. Despite the setback, Denver has been dominant, winning 10 of its last 12 games. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic continues to orchestrate the offense at an elite level, averaging a triple-double of 29.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.1 assists over his last 10 contests. His recent run includes a 39-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist performance in a win over Houston on Dec. 15. Utah (10-16) arrives after a high-scoring 143-135 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. The Jazz have lost three of their last four, with their defense allowing an average of 138.3 points in those defeats. Their bright spot has been the explosive play of third-year guard Keyonte George, who is averaging 28.7 points and 7.1 assists over his last 10 games. George scored 37 points in a win over Dallas on Dec. 15 and 39 in a victory at Memphis on Dec. 12, but was held to eight points in a 30-point loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 7, illustrating the team’s inconsistency. The matchup pits Utah’s high-octane, guard-led attack against Denver’s methodical, Jokic-centric system. The Jazz rank near the top of the league in pace but are near the bottom in defensive rating. That could prove problematic against the efficient Nuggets, who lead the NBA in field goal percentage. This game opens a tough back-to-back for both teams. Utah hosts Memphis on Tuesday, while Denver travels to face Dallas. For the Jazz, stealing a win on the road against the conference elite would provide a crucial momentum boost. For the Nuggets, it’s a chance to reassert their home-court dominance before a challenging holiday road stretch. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.