Defending champion Nuggets finish second in West, beating Grizzlies 126-111

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson, front left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 21 points, Nikola Jokic had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and the defending champion Denver Nuggets secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 126-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

The Nuggets (57-25) matched a franchise high for wins and finished with the same record as Oklahoma City, but the Thunder took the top spot in the West because of a head-to-head tiebreaker. Minnesota’s loss to Phoenix dropped the Timberwolves into third, one game behind Denver.

Nuggets Grizzlies Basketball

Denver entered the game in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Oklahoma City. It was the first time such a logjam had existed on the final day of the season with three teams having a chance at the No. 1 seed. The Thunder locked up the top spot by routing Dallas.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) handles the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Christian Braun scored 19 points for the Nuggets and Aaron Gordon added 15.

GG Jackson led Memphis with a career-high 44 points. Jake LaRavia finished with 29 points for the Grizzlies, who finished 27-55, 13th in the West. Memphis ended the season on a five-game skid.

Denver couldn’t build a significant lead in the first half, until a 9-0 run in the latter stages led to a 66-54 halftime advantage. Denver shot 51% in the half, with Murray scoring 19 points.

A 11-2 burst for Denver to open the second half increased the lead to 21, and the Nuggets eased home, with their starters sitting out the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Wait to see which team will emerge from the play-in tournament as their first-round playoff foe.

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Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) dunks in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies center Trey Jemison (55) shoots between Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) and center Nikola Jokic, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Nuggets Grizzlies Basketball

Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson (45) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reach for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Nuggets Grizzlies Basketball

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reaches for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)