Sexton after Jazz beat Nuggets: We want to embrace underdog role

Collin Sexton says opponents shouldn't overlook the rebuilding Utah Jazz after they stunned the Denver Nuggets 123-102 on Wednesday night.

"We've heard a lot about what we are supposed to be," the guard said, according to The Athletic's Tony Jones. "But we all have a lot to prove and we all want to embrace the role of being the underdog. We want to come out and surprise some people."

Seven players scored in double figures, including Sexton, who scored a team-high 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench.

"This was pretty cool," head coach Will Hardy said. "I thought we played very unselfish basketball. We played with intensity on the defensive end. We had an infectious energy tonight."

Hardy got his first win as the bench boss for the Jazz, replacing longtime coach Quin Snyder, who stepped down in the wake of another playoff loss.

Utah moved All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, sending the former Defensive Player of the Year to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the three-time All-Star guard to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return, the Jazz received a bundle of future assets, including seven first-round picks.

"We want to make it a point to move the ball to the open man and be as unselfish as possible," forward Lauri Markkanen said. "I thought we played well tonight, especially when we had to make plays. So, from that standpoint, it was a really good win."

Markkanen led the starting group in scoring with 17 points, joined by Mike Conley, who had 13, and Jordan Clarkson with 10.

"That team dominated us in every regard," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, according to The Denver Post's Mike Singer.

The Jazz head on the road to face Gobert and the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.