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Nuggets-Jazz: 56k | 300k  |
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John Stockton and Calbert Cheaney each contributed 12 points for Utah, which was coming off Sunday's embarrassing 27-point loss at Cleveland and had dropped two in a row.
"At this point in the season it's tough, because you're a little worn down and teams are fighting for playoff position so everybody is playing hard," Utah forward Tony Massenburg said.
"Teams that are not in the playoffs are basically just out there to disrupt your entire flow as far as what you're trying to do and where you're trying to be at the end of the season. It's important that we go out there and play our game and we did that tonight and that was the difference."
The Jazz have not lost to Denver at home since a 124-119 setback on Dec. 7, 1995. They are 52-9 at home against the Nuggets in the last 24 years and swept the season series for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.
Harpring shot 9-of-11 from the field, making all three of his three-pointers. Malone did most of his damage from the line, converting 10-of-14 free throws.
Malone, who sat out the final 10:20, also handed out nine assists to become only the second player in NBA history to record 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. All-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the only other player to do it.
Utah is in seventh place in the Western Conference, 2½ games ahead of Houston and Phoenix. The Jazz visit Phoenix on Thursday.
"I think you people need to realize that if we don't get our stuff together, we could miss the playoffs," Malone said. "We've got 15 games left, and if we doze off, we could miss the playoffs, which would be embarrassing. We'll see what happens."
Juwan Howard led Denver with 16 points and rookie Nene Hilario and Rodney White had 12 apiece. The Nuggets have dropped 17 of their past 19 games.
"We played a physical veteran team that was desperate for a win," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "They're trying to stay in the playoff race and this was a great lesson for our young basketball team. (A lesson) on what it's like emotionally and physically against a team that has been there before. I told them that this game is only meaningful for us if we understand what it takes to play."
Utah scored the first 13 points and rarely appeared threatened by Denver.
"We got off to a really good start in the first quarter and were pretty much able to sustain it for much of the game but they play so hard," Cheaney said. "They never give up, so you really got to stay on your 'Ps' and 'Qs' when you play them."
The Jazz owned an 11-point advantage after the first quarter and led, 52-38, at halftime. They were never up by less than 12 points in the third quarter and took their largest lead at 84-59 on Scott Padgett's two free throws with 10:20 left in the fourth.
"We executed really well, got layups, got tremendous shots within the offense and when you do that the game is so much easier," Cheaney added. "When we execute like that, a lot of guys will be in double figures every night."
Utah shot 59 percent (19-of-32) from the field in the first half and 52 percent (35-of-67) overall. The Jazz outrebounded the Nuggets 36-31 and scored 26 points off Denver's 24 turnovers.
"I thought we lost a couple of opportunities the last couple of games because of our offense," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "I thought we set much better screens and tried to defend and little better. We had some moments when we got kind of casual. I didn't think we finished very strong. If we don't realize what we are doing than it is mashed potatoes out there. It is a tough game to play."
Rookie Vincent Yarbrough and Marcus Camby each chipped in 10 points for the Nuggets, who shot 45 percent (29-of-64), attempting just five three-pointers -- making one.