Jamal Murray dropped 26 points Wednesday night as the Denver Nuggets rolled past the Memphis Grizzlies, 136–119, at Ball Arena — locking in their 10th consecutive victory and keeping their grip on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Murray was electric from the jump, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while shooting a clean 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. The veteran guard was the team’s leading scorer, but the night’s most jaw-dropping performance came from a man who has made the extraordinary feel routine.
Jokic Does It Again
Nikola Jokic recorded his 34th triple-double of the season — 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists — and did it all in just three quarters. The Nuggets center was everywhere— commanding the paint, threading passes through traffic, and cleaning up every missed shot in sight. Denver shot a blazing 58.9% from the field, piling up 66 points in the paint.
Murray spearheaded the offense, but Jokic was the engine that made the whole machine hum. The duo remains one of the most suffocating one-two punches in the league, and Wednesday’s performance was a masterclass in why Denver is dangerous heading into the postseason.
Denver’s Depth Delivers
The Nuggets didn’t rely on just their stars. The bench contributed 58 points — a sign of just how deep this roster runs late in the regular season.
- Cameron Johnson added 18 points and continued his strong stretch of play
- Christian Braun chipped in 14 points, including 6 fast-break points
- Tim Hardaway Jr. knocked down three triples for 13 points
- Jonas Valanciunas shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field for 14 points, in what was his 1,000th career NBA game
That milestone for Valanciunas — a quiet but significant achievement — added a layer of meaning to an already commanding win.
Murray Keeps Denver’s Momentum Rolling
With the win, Denver improved to 52–28 on the season. The Nuggets have now won 10 straight, a stretch that has been built on consistency, execution, and the kind of veteran poise that only comes from a team that has been through the fire of playoff basketball.
Murray has been the catalyst throughout this run. His ability to create off the dribble, knock down pull-up jumpers, and operate in pick-and-roll with Jokic gives Denver a rhythm that is nearly impossible to disrupt once it gets going. Wednesday was no different — Murray was in control from the opening tip.
Coward Shines in a Lost Season for Memphis
On the other side, the Grizzlies fell to 25–55 and dropped their sixth game in a row. But rookie Cedric Coward gave the crowd something to think about. Fans were impressed not just by his scoring but also by his energy and ability to make teammates better during key stretches of the game.
Coward posted a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. The 22-year-old out of Washington State has quietly become one of the more compelling stories on a team that is still searching for its identity. He has now scored in double digits in all but one of his last 10 appearances.
Memphis showed some fight early — the Grizzlies actually held a slim edge at halftime — but Denver, led by Murray’s precision shooting, turned it on in the third quarter, outscoring Memphis 39–22 to put the game away for good. Murray’s leadership was evident, and his impact was felt every time he touched the ball, forcing Memphis to adjust defensively.
What Is Next
Murray and the Nuggets now set their sights on a Friday home matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with playoff seeding still very much on the line. Denver is playing its best basketball of the season at the right time.
For Memphis, the focus shifts to development and the draft. Coward has been one of the few genuine bright spots, and his continued growth gives the franchise something real to build around.
