The Denver Nuggets strengthened their playoff position with a triple double from history-making Nikola Jokic helping them to a 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
The Serb put up 26 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds, and his 34th triple double performance ensured he will finish the regular season as just the third player averaging a triple double across an entire season.
The 15-point comeback victory was the second straight win for interim head coach David Adelman, who took over when Michael Malone was fired on Tuesday in a surprise move.
Malone, who led Denver to the NBA championship in 2023, was dismissed after a four-game losing streak.
The win means the Nuggets improve to 49-32 on the season and have a real chance of grabbing fourth place and home court advantage in the playoffs.
Aaron Gordon top scored with 33 points for Denver while Jamal Murray, back from a six-game injury absence, played a key role down the stretch and ended with 15 points and seven assists.
The game was tied at 108 with 3:30 left but Murray and Jokic saw the Nuggets to the victory.
Adelman paid tribute to Murray for the physical effort he put in after a lengthy absence with his ankle injury.
“You can tell he was exhausted. He hasn’t played in a long time… but the harder it gets, the more tired he gets, the better he plays. To watch those guys play the two-man game at the end, I know I’d buy a ticket to watch that,” he said.
Asked about Jokic’s latest display and his place in the record books, Adelman said: “If he doesn’t win the MVP then it is the greatest season of all-time not to win the MVP”.
The loss leaves Memphis with a 47-34 record. They face Dallas in the final round of games on Sunday.
Elsewhere on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched third seed in the Western Conference with a 140-109 pounding of an under-strength Houston Rockets, who had already assured themselves of second seed in the West.
Luka Doncic, who scored 45 points in his emotional return to Dallas on Wednesday, had another big offensive display with 39 points in a comfortable victory for the Lakers, who are on track to face the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs as things stand.
The Warriors, who blew past the Portland Trail Blazers 103-86 on Friday, currently occupy sixth place in the Western Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who have secured the top seed, convincingly beat the Utah Jazz 145-111 with Aaron Wiggins scoring 35 points and Isaiah Joe adding 32.
The Thunder were without top scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who missed a second straight game with a shin injury.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
