MEMPHIS — Jamal Murray scored 30 points and Nikola Jokic added 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-118 on Wednesday night at FedExForum. The Nuggets beat the Grizzlies 123-118 behind a decisive scoring burst from Murray in the fourth quarter, surviving a late rally in a game the visitors never trailed.

Cameron Johnson added 23 points for Denver, which won for the fifth time in seven games. Ty Jerome led Memphis with 22 points, his fifth straight game with at least 20, and Jaylen Wells also scored 22. Cedric Coward and Cam Boozer each recorded a double-double for the Grizzlies, but Memphis lost its fourth straight home game and its fourth in five since opening the season 6-0.

Key Points

• Jamal Murray scored 30 points with eight assists, including 20 of Denver's 24 points across a decisive stretch late in the game.
• Nikola Jokic finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, one short of a triple-double, while Cameron Johnson added 23 points.
• Denver led wire to wire for only the second time this season, shot 58.3 percent in the first half, committed just two turnovers before the break and led 65-52 at half-time.
• Ty Jerome scored 22 points for Memphis, his fifth straight 20-point game, and Jaylen Wells added 22, while Coward and Boozer posted double-doubles.
• Memphis trailed by 13 at half-time and got within two in the final minute, but Denver's late free throws sealed the win.

What Happened

Denver set the tone from the opening tip and never gave the lead away. The Nuggets shot 58.3 percent in the first half while committing only two turnovers, led by 18 points early in the second quarter, and took a 65-52 advantage into the break.

The Grizzlies refused to go away after half-time. They chipped away and twice pulled within a point in the final 90 seconds of the third quarter. A three-pointer from Boozer trimmed the lead to 87-86 with 1:21 left, and Coward scored inside in the final minute to make it 89-88 heading into the fourth.

That was when Murray took the game over, scoring 20 of Denver's 24 points from the final minute of the third quarter into the middle of the fourth to push the Nuggets to a 113-104 lead. Memphis answered with a 7-0 run capped by a Boozer putback with 4:01 left, closing to 113-111, and a Wells three-pointer with 52.7 seconds remaining made it 120-118. A hook shot by Zach Edey with 20.6 seconds left kept the home side alive, but Denver made three of four free throws in the final 13.9 seconds to close out the win.

Background

The win continued a strong run for Denver, which has now won five of its past seven games. Murray poured in 39 points in a 127-120 win over the Phoenix Suns, and Jokic recorded a 32-point triple-double in a 128-109 victory over Toronto. The Nuggets did lose 118-110 to Portland on November 2, when Murray scored 35 in defeat as Deni Avdija led a second-half rally.

For Memphis, the defeat deepened a slide that arrived quickly. The Grizzlies opened the season 6-0, matching the best start in franchise history, before losing 135-134 in overtime to New Orleans, when Jeremiah Fears sank the winning free throws with 7.3 seconds left. Memphis has also lost 107-103 to Indiana since, and Wednesday's defeat leaves the Grizzlies at 7-4.

How the Nuggets Beat the Grizzlies 123-118

The difference was efficiency and composure. Denver shot 58.3 percent in the first half and protected the ball, committing just two turnovers before the break, which gave Memphis almost no easy transition chances while the visitors built their lead. Leading by 18 early in the second quarter gave Denver a cushion it never fully surrendered.

Murray's fourth-quarter burst was the decisive passage of play, turning a one-point game into a nine-point lead. Jokic's near triple-double supplied the other half of the formula, giving Denver a second creator when Memphis loaded up on Murray, while Johnson's 23 points gave the visitors a third scorer the home defence could not contain. Memphis made Denver earn it, with 15 points off the bench from Cam Spencer, but spent the whole night chasing a game it never led.

Reactions

No post-game quotes from either coach or player were included in the wire reports checked for this article, so there are no direct comments to report from the dressing rooms. What the game itself showed was a Denver side playing with the confidence of a team that has now won five of seven, and a Memphis side still searching for the form that carried it to a 6-0 start. Jerome's scoring run is the brightest spot for Memphis: five straight 20-point games.

Why It Matters

Five wins in seven games keeps Denver moving in the right direction early in the season, and doing it on the road in a building where Memphis had been so strong matters. Wire-to-wire wins are rare because they demand concentration for 48 minutes, and Denver produced one on a night when its opponent refused to fold. Murray is finding form after his 39-point night against Phoenix.

For Memphis, the concern is the speed of the slide. A team that opened 6-0 and matched the best start in franchise history is now 7-4, has lost four straight at home and has dropped four of five. But the Grizzlies are losing close games they were winning two weeks ago, and that is the pattern a young team has to arrest quickly.

What Happens Next

Denver will look to carry this form into its next game, with Murray and Jokic both producing at a high level and Johnson adding a reliable third scoring option. Memphis, meanwhile, needs a win to stop the home slide before it reaches five. The performances are still there — Jerome's scoring streak, the double-doubles, the fightback from 13 down. What Memphis needs now is a finish: a game in which the late rally becomes a win rather than a near miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between the Nuggets and the Grizzlies?
The Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-118 on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at FedExForum in Memphis.

How many points did Jamal Murray score?
Murray scored 30 points with eight assists, including 20 of Denver's 24 points across a decisive stretch late in the game.

Did Nikola Jokic record a triple-double?
No. Jokic finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, one assist short of a triple-double.

Who led the Grizzlies in scoring?
Ty Jerome and Jaylen Wells each scored 22 points for Memphis. Jerome's 22 points extended his run of 20-point games to five in a row.

What is Memphis's record after the loss?
The Grizzlies fell to 7-4. They opened the season 6-0 before losing four of their past five games, including four straight at home.