Jamal Murray kept finding answers whenever Memphis surged Wednesday night. The Denver guard scored 30 points and added eight assists as the Nuggets held off the Grizzlies 123-118, turning a tense road finish into a needed win. Denver entered at 5-4 after a loss in Houston, while Memphis was 7-3 and hoping its young core could protect home court against Nikola Jokic and Murray.

Denver struck first with the kind of quick, connected offense Memphis expected. Christian Braun scored two early layups, Aaron Gordon finished a layup off Murray’s pass, and Cameron Johnson drilled a three for an 11-5 lead. Memphis answered with outside shooting. Jaylen Wells hit two first-quarter threes, and rookie Cameron Boozer followed his own miss for a basket. But Jokic controlled the action near the hoop, scoring 10 points in the period, while Murray and Denver’s reserves helped build a 35-24 lead after one.

The Nuggets stretched that lead to 42-24 early in the second quarter. DeMar DeRozan created a jumper and an assist for forward Marvin Bagley III, while Johnson added another three. Memphis did not let the game slip away. Jerami Grant hit two threes, Cam Spencer made a pair from long range, and Boozer buried a three of his own. Still, Denver had a response each time. Jokic scored three times inside during the final minutes, and Johnson’s dunk sent Denver to halftime ahead 65-52.

Memphis came out of the break with more force. Wells made all three free throws after a foul, center Zach Edey blocked Braun at the rim, and Cedric Coward hit a pullup jumper to pull within 68-59. The Grizzlies kept chasing, with Wells hitting another three and Coward making four free throws. A three by Spencer made it 77-72, then guard Javon Small knocked down a long jumper to cut the gap to two.

That was when Jokic and Murray stopped the rush. After Jokic made a free throw and then a three, Murray hit a deep three late in the third. He added a 19-foot jumper with seconds left, giving Denver a 94-90 lead entering the fourth.

Memphis kept charging. Ty Jerome scored 22 points, including a 31-foot three, while Boozer’s putback cut Denver’s lead to 113-111 with 4:01 left. Boozer finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, showing why Memphis has built its new chapter around his all-around game.

Yet Denver’s stars stayed calm. Murray floated in a short shot for a four-point lead, and Johnson drove for a layup before burying a three off Jokic’s pass to make it 120-113 with 1:01 left. Wells answered with his fifth three, and Edey scored inside to make it 120-118. Boozer had two late chances from deep, but neither fell. Jokic and Gordon sealed it with free throws.

Denver improved to 6-4 because its 34 assists and only four turnovers showed sharp teamwork under pressure. Memphis fell to 7-4, but its comeback proved the young group can battle elite opponents. Both teams next face New Orleans, carrying different lessons from a game decided by Denver’s steady closing poise.

Jamal Murray’s 30 Points Carry Denver Through Memphis Rally