Nikola Jokic delivered another historic performance on Friday night, posting 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 117–109 comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Ball Arena.
Jokic’s triple-double was his 34th of the season and 164th of his career, officially cementing him as the first center in NBA history — and only the third player ever — to average a triple-double for an entire season.
Nuggets Close Strong in Fourth Quarter
Denver (49–32) trailed by as many as 15 points and entered the final six minutes down 108–103. But the Nuggets responded with a dominant 14–1 run, holding Memphis without a field goal during the final stretch and outscoring the Grizzlies 25–14 in the fourth quarter.
Aaron Gordon was a major force, throwing down eight dunks on his way to a season-high 33 points. Jamal Murray returned from a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury and contributed 15 points.
Russell Westbrook added 14 points, while Christian Braun and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with 12 points and 12 rebounds, respectively.
The win keeps Denver in the top six of the Western Conference playoff race heading into their regular-season finale Sunday in Houston.
Grizzlies Collapse Late, Fall to No. 8 in West
The
Memphis Grizzlies (47–34) appeared in control with a five-point lead and momentum late in the fourth quarter, but they missed their final 10 shots and committed four costly turnovers during the collapse.
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 24 points, while Ja Morant scored 21 and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18. Rookie Zach Edey grabbed 16 rebounds in a strong showing off the bench.
Memphis has now lost two straight and dropped to the No. 8 seed in the West with one game remaining — a Sunday showdown at home against the Dallas Mavericks.
Game-Changing Moment
After Memphis took a 108–103 lead with just over six minutes to play, Jokic and the Nuggets tightened up defensively and executed down the stretch. Jokic assisted Gordon on a powerful dunk, tied the game at 108 with free throws, and gave Denver its first lead since the opening minutes with a go-ahead floater.
What’s Next:
- Denver Nuggets head to Houston to face the
Rockets in their regular-season finale.
- Memphis Grizzlies will host the
Dallas Mavericks in a critical Western Conference matchup.
