Denver Survives Memphis’ 38-Point Third After Murray’s 30

Denver seized control with a 35-24 first quarter and carried a 65-52 lead into halftime on Wednesday. Memphis answered with 38 points in the third, cutting the gap to four, but Denver edged the fourth quarter 29-28 to close out the 123-118 win. Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points on 12-for-19 shooting, adding four rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, no steals and one turnover. Nikola Jokic supplied 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 11 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, one block and one turnover. Cameron Johnson added 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, no blocks and no turnovers. Ty Jerome and Jaylen Wells each scored 22 for Memphis: Jerome shot 9-for-18 and had two rebounds, five assists, no steals or blocks and one turnover, while Wells went 6-for-13 with two rebounds, one assist, no steals or blocks and two turnovers. Denver’s opening cushion proved decisive against a Memphis attack that also got 15 points and 11 rebounds from Cedric Coward, as the Nuggets held on for the five-point victory.