Forget the Nuggets' 135-125 overtime victory against the Jazz two days ago. This game should go back to being playoff-style, defensive-minded basketball. 
These are a pair of top-11 defenses who play slow, preferring a half-court style. 
Both are minus key offensive players. Missing for Utah is Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic. The Jazz failed to convince anyone that they adequately replaced Bogdanovic's much-needed perimeter shooting. 
The Nuggets have been without underrated Gary Harris and sparkplug Will Barton. 
Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive centers in the NBA. He'll be motivated to do better against Nikola Jokic, who outplayed Gobert in the opener. Same with the Nuggets defense clamping down on Donovan MItchell, who went off for an embarrassing 57 points against them in Game 1. 
Torrey Craig had defended Mitchell well during the regular season when none of the three meetings went above 210 in regulation. The Nuggets may decide to give reserve defensive specialist Monte Morris more playing time in an effort to combat Mitchell. That would be another plus for the Under.