Christian Braun scored 17 points, Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-103 on Monday night.

With 27 seconds left in the third quarter and Denver up 21 points, Jokic left the game. He finished two assists short of recording his 23rd triple-double of the year.

Lamar Stevens scored 19 points for the Grizzlies, matching a season best. With 17, Scotty Pippen Jr.

The Nuggets have defeated the team by a total of 62 points in their last two meetings, which were all played in Denver.

Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson, left, reaches out for the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) defends in the …Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, goes up for a basket past Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane in the first half of an …Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives past Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., back right, and guard …Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., right, looks to pass the ball as Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama defends in the …Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson, left, goes up for a basket as Memphis Grizzlies center Trey Jemison defends in the first …Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) passes the ball while driving between Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) …Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson, left, reaches out for the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) defends in the …

Denver hit 46.9% from three-point range and 53.3% from the field despite playing without injured starters Aaron Gordon (fascia strain) and Jamal Murray (left ankle sprain). This is the Nuggets’ best record since the All-Star break: 15-2.

Denver’s Peyton Watson finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds after coming off the bench, while Reggie Jackson contributed 15 points and eight assists.

With a 16–6 lead at 4:20 in the game and a lead that grew to 18 points in the first quarter, the Nuggets came out swinging. Jokic finished the first quarter with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

In the opening half of an NBA game, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, goes up for a basket past Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane.In the opening half of an NBA basketball game on Monday, March 25, 2024, in Denver, center Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, left, goes up for a basket past guard Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies.

With 5:48 left in the third quarter, Memphis, which had trailed by 25 points at the half, narrowed their deficit to 15 points. However, following a brief break called by head coach Michael Malone, the Nuggets destroyed any realistic aspirations of a comeback, going on a 14-2 run.

One game ahead of idle Oklahoma City in the Western Conference is the defending NBA champion Nuggets. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, dropped to 24-48 in a difficult season that has seen them miss all but nine games due to the absence of guard Ja Morant, their franchise player, and every game since January 9 due to the injury of significant summer signing Marcus Smart.