DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season, Jamal Murray hit several clutch shots in his return and the Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-109 on Friday night.

After a slow start offensively, Jokic had his 34th triple-double with 26 points, 16 rebounds and a dozen assists. He wrapped up a triple-double average with his fourth assist of the night. The other players to average a triple-double for a full season: Russell Westbrook, Jokic’s current Denver teammate, and Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.

Aaron Gordon led Denver with 33 points, and Murray chipped in 15 points in his return from a sprained right ankle that sidelined him six games.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 24 points. Ja Morant added 21 for the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 15 in the first half but watched the Nuggets chip away until closing the game on a 14-1 run over the final six minutes.

The Nuggets improved to 49-32, strengthening their bid for home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs, and the Grizzlies fell to 47-34.

Takeaways

Grizzlies: After getting fined for celebrating 3-pointers with a finger guy pointed at the opponents' bench, Morant continued doing what looks like a grenade pull and lob after big buckets, although he insists it's not what it looks like, telling ClutchPoints, “I'm taking my words and I'm throwing them out there."

Nuggets: Westbrook also came up clutch for the Nuggets, scoring 14 points.

Key moment

During pregame introductions, Murray's name was announced for the first time since March 26 against Milwaukee.

Key stat

The Grizzlies were just 11 of 31 on 3-pointers in the first half but Denver was a meager 1 of 15. Memphis finished 14 of 43 and Denver 5 of 24.

Up next

Both teams play Sunday. The Grizzlies head home to host Dallas, and the Nuggets travel to Houston to face the Rockets, who have wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the West.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Zach Edey vs. Nikola Jokic (Jaren Jackson Jr. gains possession)	0	0
11:37	Jaren Jackson Jr. misses 10-foot two point shot	0	0
11:34	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	0	0
11:32	Desmond Bane shooting foul	0	0
11:32	Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 2	1	0
11:32	Aaron Gordon makes free throw 2 of 2	2	0
11:22	Jamal Murray shooting foul	2	0
11:22	Zach Edey makes free throw 1 of 2	2	1
11:22	Zach Edey misses free throw 2 of 2	2	1
11:19	Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound	2	1
11:00	Aaron Gordon misses 24-foot three point pullup jump shot	2	1
10:56	Zach Edey defensive rebound	2	1
10:48	Ja Morant misses two point shot	2	1
10:45	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	2	1
10:42	Aaron Gordon misses 23-foot three point shot	2	1
10:39	Zach Edey defensive rebound	2	1
10:26	Vince Williams Jr. misses 23-foot three point jumper	2	1
10:21	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	2	1
10:12	Aaron Gordon makes 2-foot driving dunk	4	1
10:02	Christian Braun shooting foul	4	1
10:02	Ja Morant makes free throw 1 of 2	4	2
10:02	Ja Morant makes free throw 2 of 2	4	3
9:49	Zach Edey shooting foul	4	3
9:49	Jamal Murray misses free throw 1 of 2	4	3
9:49	Nuggets offensive team rebound	4	3
9:49	Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2	5	3
9:29	Desmond Bane makes 28-foot three pointer	5	6
9:15	Desmond Bane shooting foul	5	6
9:15	Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 2	6	6
9:15	Luke Kennard enters the game for Desmond Bane	6	6
9:15	Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2	7	6
9:07	Ja Morant misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	7	6
9:03	Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound	7	6
8:56	Jaren Jackson Jr. blocks Aaron Gordon 's 2-foot driving layup	7	6
8:53	Vince Williams Jr. defensive rebound	7	6
8:48	Ja Morant makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Vince Williams Jr. assists)	7	9
8:36	Jamal Murray out of bounds bad pass turnover	7	9
8:22	Ja Morant misses 25-foot three point jumper	7	9
8:20	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	7	9
8:20	Jaren Jackson Jr. personal foul	7	9
8:11	Santi Aldama enters the game for Jaren Jackson Jr.	7	9
8:08	Michael Porter Jr. bad pass (Luke Kennard steals)	7	9
7:58	Vince Williams Jr. makes 3-foot two point shot (Luke Kennard assists)	7	11
7:53	Aaron Gordon makes alley oop dunk shot (Jamal Murray assists)	9	11
7:41	Santi Aldama misses 25-foot three point jumper	9	11
7:38	Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound	9	11
7:32	Michael Porter Jr. misses 18-foot step back jumpshot	9	11
7:28	Luke Kennard defensive rebound	9	11
7:11	Ja Morant makes 26-foot three point jumper (Luke Kennard assists)	9	14
6:52	Michael Porter Jr. misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	9	14
6:50	Ja Morant defensive rebound	9	14
6:44	Santi Aldama makes 25-foot three point jumper (Luke Kennard assists)	9	17
6:44	Christian Braun shooting foul	9	17
6:44	Nuggets Full timeout	9	17
6:44	Russell Westbrook enters the game for Christian Braun	9	17
6:44	Peyton Watson enters the game for Jamal Murray	9	17
6:44	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Aaron Gordon	9	17
6:44	Santi Aldama misses free throw 1 of 1	9	17
6:40	Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound	9	17
6:31	Peyton Watson misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	9	17
6:30	Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound	9	17
6:30	Michael Porter Jr. makes tip shot	11	17
6:12	Santi Aldama makes 13-foot two point shot (Luke Kennard assists)	11	19
5:53	Peyton Watson misses layup	11	19
5:52	Nikola Jokic offensive rebound	11	19
5:52	Nikola Jokic misses tip shot	11	19
5:52	Nuggets offensive team rebound	11	19
5:52	Scotty Pippen Jr. enters the game for Vince Williams Jr.	11	19
5:47	Nikola Jokic offensive foul	11	19
5:47	Nikola Jokic turnover	11	19
5:33	Zach Edey makes 1-foot alley oop dunk shot (Ja Morant assists)	11	21
5:16	Peyton Watson misses 25-foot three point jumper	11	21
5:14	Zach Edey defensive rebound	11	21
5:09	Ja Morant misses 27-foot three point shot	11	21
5:05	Russell Westbrook defensive rebound	11	21
4:57	Jalen Pickett misses 25-foot three point jumper	11	21
4:55	Nuggets offensive team rebound	11	21
4:55	Ja Morant loose ball foul	11	21
4:55	Michael Porter Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2	12	21
4:55	Jaren Jackson Jr. enters the game for Zach Edey	12	21
4:55	Michael Porter Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2	13	21
4:44	Jaren Jackson Jr. makes 27-foot three point jumper (Scotty Pippen Jr. assists)	13	24
4:26	Russell Westbrook makes 1-foot two point shot	15	24
4:14	Peyton Watson blocks Jaren Jackson Jr. 's 2-foot layup	15	24
4:11	Peyton Watson defensive rebound	15	24
4:08	Russell Westbrook misses 25-foot three point shot	15	24
4:04	Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound	15	24
3:54	Peyton Watson misses 8-foot two point shot	15	24
3:51	Luke Kennard defensive rebound	15	24
3:35	Scotty Pippen Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Santi Aldama assists)	15	27
3:22	Peyton Watson makes 1-foot dunk (Nikola Jokic assists)	17	27
2:58	Scotty Pippen Jr. misses driving layup	17	27
2:56	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	17	27
2:54	Peyton Watson makes 1-foot dunk (Russell Westbrook assists)	19	27
2:54	Grizzlies Full timeout	19	27
2:54	Aaron Gordon enters the game for Michael Porter Jr.	19	27
2:54	John Konchar enters the game for Ja Morant	19	27
2:42	Jaren Jackson Jr. misses 26-foot three point jumper	19	27
2:38	John Konchar offensive rebound	19	27
2:37	Luke Kennard misses 26-foot three point jumper	19	27
2:34	Russell Westbrook defensive rebound	19	27
2:15	Nikola Jokic misses 7-foot two point shot	19	27
2:12	John Konchar defensive rebound	19	27
1:53	Jaren Jackson Jr. misses 27-foot three point jumper	19	27
1:50	Jalen Pickett defensive rebound	19	27
1:39	Nikola Jokic bad pass (Santi Aldama steals)	19	27
1:34	John Konchar makes two point shot (Santi Aldama assists)	19	29
1:15	Aaron Gordon makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jalen Pickett assists)	22	29
1:03	Luke Kennard makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot (Scotty Pippen Jr. assists)	22	32
51.1	Luke Kennard shooting foul	22	32
51.1	Peyton Watson makes free throw 1 of 2	23	32
51.1	Desmond Bane enters the game for Luke Kennard	23	32
51.1	Peyton Watson makes free throw 2 of 2	24	32
35.1	Desmond Bane bad pass (Jalen Pickett steals)	24	32
33.1	Peyton Watson makes 1-foot dunk (Jalen Pickett assists)	26	32
12.1	Desmond Bane makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot	26	34
12.1	Peyton Watson shooting foul	26	34
12.1	Michael Porter Jr. enters the game for Peyton Watson	26	34
12.1	Lamar Stevens enters the game for Jaren Jackson Jr.	26	34
12.1	Desmond Bane makes free throw 1 of 1	26	35
3.1	Russell Westbrook makes 1-foot two point shot	28	35
0.1	Aaron Gordon blocks Lamar Stevens 's 40-foot three point pullup jump shot	28	35
0.1	Grizzlies offensive team rebound	28	35
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	28	35

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Ball Arena

Denver, CO

Date & Time

1:00 AM, April 12, 2025

Coverage

Altitude Sports, FanDuel SN SE, KTVD-TV (My20), NBA League Pass

Attendance

20,015

Referees

Eric Dalen, Tony Brothers, Evan Scott

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	46	15	.754	W1
Denver	37	23	.617	L1
Minnesota	37	23	.617	W2
Portland	29	32	.475	L1
Utah	18	42	.300	L5

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Jokic clinches triple-double average, Murray returns in the Nuggets' 117-109 win over the Grizzlies

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