Nuggets, Jazz tangle at the Delta Center

Utah’s latest setback came on Monday, as it found itself on the wrong end of a 79-70 decision to the San Antonio Spurs. Jarron Collins had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who have lost five of six.

Matt Harpring contributed 12 points, while Andrei Kirilenko had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Keith McLeod also had 10 points in the loss.

McLeod’s jumper had the Jazz within 62-58 in the early stages of the fourth quarter, but the Spurs put the game away with a 12-4 run.

The only bright spot on the night was when team owner Larry Miller announced at the end of the first quarter that the team will retire Karl Malone’s No. 32 jersey on March 23 in a game against the Washington Wizards.

The retirement ceremony will take place on the same day that a bronze statue immortalizing the Jazz legend will be unveiled outside the Delta Center.

Utah, which will close this stand against Sacramento on Friday, is 10-12 in its arena this season.

Denver, meanwhile, comes in on a losing note after dropping a 98-91 decision to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday at ARCO Arena.

Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and Kenyon Martin chipped in 21 points and 11 rebounds in the loss, the Nuggets’ third in a row after a season-high seven- game winning streak.

The Nuggets, who will be closing a three-game road trip tonight, are 10-13 away from home this season.

Denver defeated the Jazz earlier in the season and has won three straight and six of the last nine meetings. The Nuggets, though, have dropped 16 of 18 and 22 of their last 25 in Utah.