NBA PLAYOFFS / WESTERN CONFERENCE : Jazz Hums in Series Opener on Sharp Outside Shooting

Karl Malone scored 25 points as Utah offset Denver’s shot-blocking Dikembe Mutombo with sharp perimeter shooting and beat the Nuggets, 100-91, Tuesday night in the opener of a Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

Malone, who was deadly from 15-18 feet, also had 10 rebounds and John Stockton added 17 points and 11 assists for the Jazz, who will play host to Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday.

Mutombo had 20 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four blocked shots. During the Nuggets’ first-round victory over Seattle, he set an NBA playoff record with 31 blocks in five games.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf added 16 points and LaPhonso Ellis had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which is making its first playoff appearance since 1990.

Jeff Hornacek had 15 points and Jay Humphries had 12 for the Jazz, which won four of five games against the Nuggets during the regular season.

With Denver trailing by 11, the Nuggets’ Rodney Rogers made a three-pointer and Brian Williams added a three-point play to cut Utah’s lead to 73-68 with 11:07 to play.

The Jazz regained control with Malone scoring six points in a 15-4 run, including a 10-foot jumper, that gave Utah an 88-72 lead--its biggest--with 5:41 to play.

The Nuggets got within seven again on Abdul-Rauf’s 18-footer at the 2:03 mark, but could get no closer.

Denver had trailed by nine points at halftime, but an 11-0 run--capped by Ellis’ 18-footer--gave the Nuggets a 55-53 lead three minutes into the second half.