Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at Ball Arena. The result sent Denver into the All-Star break at 35-20, third in the Western Conference standings.
The Serbian center recorded the 184th triple-double of his career, controlling tempo through post play and high-post passing. His playmaking anchored an offense that shot 53 percent from the field and produced 29 assists.
Jamal Murray added 23 points and closed the game at the foul line, going 4-for-4 in the final 11.7 seconds to seal the victory. The guard also contributed seven assists, repeatedly attacking Memphis’ perimeter defense late in possessions.
Tim Hardaway Jr. provided scoring depth with 21 points off the bench, including a key third-quarter three-pointer assisted by Jokic that secured the milestone triple-double and extended the lead to 93-81. Christian Braun added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Julian Strawther scored 11 as Denver relied on balanced contributions.
The home side created separation in the second quarter with four consecutive three-pointers that pushed the margin to 44-33. Memphis responded by closing the half on a 7-0 run, trimming the deficit to 60-54 and keeping the game within reach.
The visitors continued their push early in the third quarter, using another 7-0 run to cut the gap to one point. GG Jackson II, who led Memphis with 21 points, tied the score at 68 on a three-pointer, but the Grizzlies never moved ahead.
Ty Jerome scored 19 points and handed out seven assists for the Tennessee club, while Jaylen Wells added 17 on efficient shooting. Memphis finished 15-of-39 from three-point range but struggled to contain Denver’s interior scoring and free-throw advantage.
The Nuggets outrebounded the Grizzlies 46-29 and converted 26 free throws, reflecting consistent pressure around the rim. Denver maintained control despite committing 14 turnovers, relying on half-court execution through Jokic’s decision-making.
Memphis, now 20-33 and 11th in the Western Conference, erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit while Jokic rested but could not complete the comeback. The Grizzlies have lost 10 of their last 12 games, including this matchup against a short-handed Denver rotation.
Denver travels to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 19, while Memphis returns home to host the Utah Jazz on Feb. 20 as both teams resume play following the break.
