Nuggets 123-118 Grizzlies: 47:29 ahead in Memphis, the home side never led

Highlights

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47:29. That is how long the Denver Nuggets held the lead at FedExForum — and Memphis never owned a single second of the other 31. The Grizzlies' biggest lead: zero. Denver's: eighteen. The final read 123-118, shaped by four Denver turnovers against Memphis' eleven and an 11-4 block count.

Denver set the terms immediately, taking the opening quarter 35-24 and the second 30-28 for a 65-52 halftime cushion, powered by a 12-point burst. Memphis roared back in the third, outscoring the visitors 38-29 behind a 10-point run of its own, and dragged the fourth into one-possession territory. Cameron Johnson's three made it 113-120, Jaylen Wells answered from deep at 116-120, and Zach Edey's bucket pulled the Grizzlies within two at 118-120. Denver then closed it at the line: one from Nikola Jokić, two from Aaron Gordon — 118-121, 118-122, 118-123, and the game was gone.

Memphis won the glass outright and still lost.

Where it counted most, the split was dead even: 11-11 offensive rebounds on both ends.

Jamal Murray ran the offense and the scoreboard, 30 points on 63% shooting with 8 assists, 2 blocks and a team-best plus-11. Jokić stacked 27 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists at the same 63% clip, while Johnson added 23 on 60% — including the three that steadied the fourth. Memphis leaned on Ty Jerome and Jaylen Wells, 22 apiece, with Cedric Coward chipping in 15 points and 11 rebounds. Denver also out-assisted the hosts 34-27 and won the steals column 4-2.

Four turnovers, eleven blocks, wire to wire. Memphis brought the fight in the third quarter; Denver had already built the wall in the first.