Grizzlies complete two-game sweep of Nuggets despite strong double-double performance by Jokic / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 11 of his season-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Memphis Grizzlies (5-3) recorded their second consecutive win over the visiting Nuggets (4-4), beating Denver 108-106 (37-19, 19-36, 22-28, 30-23) on Wednesday.

Player of the Game EFF 21 Jaren Jackson Points 22 Accuracy 7-14 Rebounds 8 Assists 2

Jackson made five 3-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds for Memphis, which escaped with the win after Nikola Jokic's 11-foot jump shot hit the front rim at the buzzer.

Ja Morant recorded 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists for the Grizzlies while Desmond Bane and Kyle Anderson had 16 points apiece.

Jokic put up a season-high 34 points while adding 11 rebounds for Denver, which lost 106-97 in Memphis on Monday. Will Barton scored a season-high 26 points on Wednesday.

Denver guard Monte Morris was 2-for-11 from the field before his midrange jumper tied the game at 102 with 3:30 left to play.

After the teams exchanged baskets, Bane hit a 3-pointer to put Memphis ahead 107-104 with 1:20 remaining.

Jokic scored at the rim with 22.4 seconds left to pull Denver within 107-106, and the Nuggets sent Morant to the foul line with 10.6 seconds to play.

Morant, who missed five of his seven free throws for the game, made one of his two shots to put Memphis ahead 108-106.

Memphis rookie Ziaire Williams, who finished a career-high 11 points, made three 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Grizzlies stormed to a 37-19 lead.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 20 in the first quarter and were 7 of 11 from beyond the arc in the opening 12 minutes.

Frustrated by his team's slow start, Denver coach Michael Malone benched four of his starters after seven minutes in the first quarter.

The Nuggets opened the second quarter with a 19-5 run, and they later moved ahead 47-46 on Aaron Gordon's 3-pointer with 3:04 left in the half.

Anderson scored 14 points in the first half for the Grizzlies, who entered the break with a 56-55 lead despite being outscored 36-19 in the second quarter.

Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds on the night for Denver, which shot 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) from 3-point range.

Barton bounced back after shooting 1-of-8 from the field in the Monday loss by shooting 11 of 21 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range.

Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. 22 (8 REB), Ja Morant 18 (6 REB, 6 AST), Kyle Anderson 16, Desmond Bane 16, Ziaire Williams 11, De'Anthony Melton 10.

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 34 (11 REB, 5 AST), Will Barton 26 (7 AST), Michael Porter Jr. 12 (11 REB).

Nikola Jokic's performance

Full game highlights

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