NBA: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets overtake Grizzlies for 10th straight win

Jamal Murray dropped 26 points, while Nikola Jokic recorded his 34th triple-double of the season with 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 136-119 on Wednesday night. This win marks the Nuggets' 10th consecutive victory, further solidifying their position in the Western Conference playoff race.

With a 52-28 record, the Nuggets have now earned their first double-digit winning streak since the 2012-13 season. They sit 1 1/2 games ahead of both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the West. Denver will conclude their regular season with two crucial matchups against the conference's top seeds—hosting Oklahoma City on Friday and traveling to San Antonio on Sunday.

While Los Angeles (50-29) currently holds the tiebreaker over Denver, the Nuggets have the advantage over Houston (50-29), making these final games pivotal in securing their postseason positioning.

Several key players contributed to the victory. Cameron Johnson added 18 points for Denver, while Jonas Valanciunas celebrated his 1,000th career game with 14 points. Despite facing early foul trouble, Valanciunas bounced back in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points. Christian Braun also chipped in with 14 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown each added 13 points. Julian Strawther rounded out the scoring with 10 points.

Memphis, despite missing several key players, showed resilience in the first half. The Grizzlies went on a 23-6 run in the second quarter, briefly leading by as many as eight points. Denver fought back, taking a two-point lead late in the second period, but Memphis regained control when Lucas Williamson was fouled on a three-pointer, hitting the free throw and later adding a hook shot to give the Grizzlies a 72-68 advantage at halftime.

The Grizzlies extended their lead to eight points early in the third, but Denver responded with a 14-3 run, overtaking Memphis 84-81 midway through the period. Jokic tallied his 10th assist during this run, marking his 198th career triple-double.

Denver's dominance continued into the fourth quarter, where they outscored Memphis 29-25 to secure the 136-119 victory. The Nuggets extended their lead to 121-100 with 6:32 left, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Cedric Coward led Memphis with 27 points, but it wasn't enough to snap their six-game losing streak. The Grizzlies have now dropped 19 of their last 21 games. Taylor Hendricks and Lucas Williamson scored 16 points each, while Walter Clayton Jr. and Toby Okani contributed 15 points apiece. Adama Bal added 12 points in the loss.

With the win, Denver continues to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season, where every game counts toward securing a top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

-Field Level Media/Reuters