Memphis forced a rare sloppy performance from Jokić, erasing a 15-point deficit before falling in a hard-fought battle.
The Memphis Grizzlies forced Nikola Jokić into one of his sloppiest nights of the season, and still nearly stole the game.
Despite Jokić securing his 184th career triple-double through three quarters, Memphis erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit before ultimately falling 122-116 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at Ball Arena.
For a Grizzlies team navigating frontcourt changes and recent struggles, the effort was unmistakable. The execution late was not enough.
Jokić finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for Denver (35-20), while Jamal Murray added 22 points, including four free throws in the final 11.7 seconds to seal the win. Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 21 points as the Nuggets entered the All-Star break with momentum despite an injury-riddled first half of the season.
Memphis (20-33), losers of 10 of its last 12, continued to search for consistency but showed signs of resilience against one of the Western Conference’s elite teams.
The challenge inside was evident from the opening tip. Since trading away Jock Landale and Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis has faced increased pressure in the paint, and Denver’s size — anchored by Jokić and Jonas Valančiūnas — presented a physical matchup.
Through three quarters, the Nuggets held a commanding 39-20 rebounding advantage. Denver shot 52.5% in the first half, compared to Memphis’ 38.8%, and used controlled possessions to dictate tempo.
What kept the Grizzlies within reach was defensive disruption.
Memphis forced 14 turnovers while committing only six of its own. Jokić, despite his stat line, turned the ball over nine times — a testament to the full-court pressure, early post work and help-side shrinkage Memphis consistently applied.
Coach Tuomas Iisalo highlighted that defensive activity afterward.
“Yeah, he had a great game, and I think that’s what’s to be expected,” Iisalo said.
“But I was very impressed with our defensive activity. We forced him to nine turnovers. I’m not sure when that has happened the last time.”
Iisalo detailed the collective approach.
“Just the activity and the friction that our guys put up — all the way from full court, doing the early work against him in the post and in the high post, and then shrinking the floor — I was very impressed with that,” Iisalo said.
Memphis’ offense found rhythm in spurts. The Nuggets created separation in the second quarter with four consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 44-33, but the Grizzlies closed the half on a 7-0 run to pull within 60-54 at the break.
In the third quarter, another 7-0 burst cut the deficit to one at 66-65. A 3-pointer by GG Jackson II tied the game at 68, igniting belief on the Memphis bench. Jackson finished with a season-high 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Ty Jerome added 19 points and seven assists, continuing his steady production.
Jokić reached his triple-double when he assisted Hardaway on a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in the third quarter, pushing Denver ahead 93-81.
The fourth quarter belonged briefly to Memphis.
With Jokić resting early in the period, the Grizzlies mounted a 12-0 run that erased a 15-point deficit and tied the game inside the final four minutes. The ball movement sharpened, defensive intensity rose, and the energy shifted.
Trailing by three with 23 seconds remaining, Memphis had a chance to force overtime. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-point attempt to tie the score struck the back rim, and Denver secured the rebound before closing the contest at the free-throw line.
After the game, Iisalo focused on the competitiveness his team displayed at the end of a five-game road trip.
“I was very impressed with how our guys competed,” Iisalo said.
“It’s been a long road trip — five games — and we only got one win out of that road trip. But just the effort that the guys have played with, the togetherness and the vibes overall have been great.”
He emphasized the growth within the group despite the result.
“Today, we took a very, very tough Denver team all the way to the end and had a chance there,” Iisalo said.
“They’re a veteran team, very well coached, and playing very well at the moment. I love the fact that we didn’t shy away and stayed in the game all the way to the end.”
The Grizzlies now head into the All-Star break looking to reset before hosting the Utah Jazz on Feb. 20. Cam Spencer, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells will represent Memphis in the Rising Stars event on Feb. 13 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
For a team searching for traction, Wednesday’s performance offered a template: pressure the ball, protect possessions, and compete for 48 minutes.
The next step will be turning that fight into wins.