Carmelo Anthony starred with 42 points as the Nuggets defeated the Jazz 126-113 in Game 1 of their first-round series.
The output was a playoff career-high for Anthony.
Denver outscored Utah 38-27 in the fourth quarter as they pulled away.
J.R. Smith scored 18 of his 20 points in the final period.
"We need that," Anthony said of Smith. "I know I said that earlier our team's success falls on me, but J.R.'s a big part of what we do and how far we go. We need him to play the way he played -- under control."