Jamal Murray scored 21 points, while Nikola Jokić grabbed 15 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 126-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
With this victory, the Nuggets secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference for the playoffs. They finished the season with a record of 57-25, tying a franchise high for wins.
Although they shared the same record as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Thunder claimed the top spot in the West due to a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost to Phoenix, slipped to third place, one game behind Denver.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone attributed their success to their determination to not settle for their achievements from the previous season. He expressed pride in tying the franchise record for wins, especially after winning the championship last year.
The Nuggets entered the final day of the season in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Oklahoma City, making it the first time in history that such a situation occurred with three teams competing for the No. 1 seed. However, the Thunder secured the top spot by defeating Dallas.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Nuggets will face either the New Orleans Pelicans or the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The Pelicans and Lakers will compete in a play-in game on Tuesday night to determine who advances to face the Nuggets.
Malone expressed relief as the regular season came to a close, emphasizing their achievement of securing the 2nd seed. He mentioned their plans to watch the New Orleans-LA game on Tuesday. Christian Braun contributed 19 points, while Aaron Gordon added 15 for the Nuggets.
Michael Porter Jr., a Denver forward, highlighted the team’s newfound identity and chemistry. He acknowledged the time it took for the core players to gel together.
GG Jackson had an outstanding performance for Memphis, scoring a career-high 44 points. Jake LaRavia also contributed 29 points for the Grizzlies, who finished 13th in the West with a record of 27-55.
Despite the team’s struggles, Jackson, drafted 45th last year, signed a multi-year contract in February and ended the season on a high note with over 40 points in his final game.
Reflecting on the season, Jackson admitted it was mentally challenging but also a learning experience that required him to adapt and grow. Denver struggled to establish a big lead in the first half, but a late 9-0 run helped them go into halftime with a 66-54 lead. Murray led the scoring with 19 points as Denver shot 51% from the field.
A strong start to the second half with an 11-2 run extended Denver’s lead to 21 points. They comfortably maintained their advantage, allowing their starters to rest in the final quarter. Despite concerns about the availability of key players like Jokic and Murray, Denver’s regular starters all played in the game.
Memphis faced challenges due to injuries that sidelined several key players for extended periods. Against Denver, the Grizzlies had only eight players available, many of them on two-way and 10-day contracts. This was a stark contrast to last season, when Memphis was the No. 2 seed in the West.
Coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged the unexpected challenges the team faced this season, emphasizing the unpredictability of each season.
