MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Jamal Murray had 21 points, Nikola Jokic had 15 points and 15 rebounds and the defending champion Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 126-111 to advance to the Western Conference. secured the second seed. Sunday.
The Nuggets (57-25) matched the franchise's best win total and finished with the same record as Oklahoma City, but the head-to-head tiebreaker gave the Thunder the top spot in the West. Minnesota's loss to Phoenix dropped the Timberwolves to third place, one game behind Denver.
Denver entered the game in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Oklahoma City. It was the first time such an upset occurred on the final day of the season, when three teams had a chance at the No. 1 seed. The Thunder defeated Dallas to take the lead.
Christian Braun had 19 points and Aaron Gordon added 15 points for the Nuggets.
GG Jackson led Memphis with a career-high 44 points. Jake LaRabia scored 29 points for the Grizzlies, who finished 13th in the West Division with a record of 27 wins and 55 losses. Memphis ended the season with a five-game losing streak.
Denver was unable to build a big lead in the first half, but a 9-0 run in the second half gave them a 66-54 lead at halftime. Denver shot 51% in the first half, with Murray scoring 19 points.
Denver opened the second half with an 11-2 outburst, extending the lead to 21, and the Nuggets were relieved at home with their starter missing for the fourth quarter.
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Nuggets: It will be interesting to see which team emerges from the play-in tournament as a first-round playoff opponent.
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