Like a veteran boxer stringing along an outclassed pug, the Jazz refused to knock out the Nuggets on Wednesday, carrying Denver to the finish on a sea of turnovers and offensive rebounds before finally winning an ugly 96-79 decision in the Pepsi Center.
   
The Jazz worked the ball inside at will, shot a season-high 59 percent, and held the Nuggets to a rec-league 31.3 percent, yet led by only 12 points with three minutes left. And while nobody in the building, least of all the smattering of diehards who paid to watch this mess, seemed to seriously believe the kiddie-corps Nuggets could mount a charge, the Jazz didn't get to clear the bench and take a breather, either.