Russell Westbrook gets 200th triple-double, Nuggets top Grizzlies in NBA Cup

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Maybe the NBA Cup just means more. Or maybe the Nuggets realized they needed to approach the final game of their three-game road trip with better energy after being crushed by the Grizzlies’ physicality two days earlier.

Jamal Murray rebounded with 27 points, Russell Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to record 200 career triple-doubles and the Nuggets staged a furious late comeback to end their trip up the Mississippi River with a 122 victory -110. Grizzlies.

Memphis cut a 25-point Denver lead to five in the final two minutes, but Dario Saric buried a dagger 3-pointer with 27.7 seconds left to give his team a 118-110 lead while sitting on five fouls .

Westbrook finished the night with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in 32 minutes. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points despite shooting 0 for 4 from beyond the arc, the rarest stat line for him. Christian Braun went for 19 points, six rebounds and three steals. That was more than enough to finally survive a game without Nikola Jokic. The third try was the charm. Now Denver (8-5) is 1-1 in the group stage of the NBA Cup with Dallas visiting on Friday for the next game.

“We’re not always going to have the luxury of being able to rely on one person,” Peyton Watson said before the game. “… Without him, our thinking should change. I don’t think it should stay the same. I think we should all take it upon ourselves that we have more responsibility.

“… I think it’s something that’s a privilege to be able to be in these situations and be counted on and have the pressure on us. Because it’s not every night.”

Defensive statistics told the story of the changed mindset early on. Seven Nuggets were credited with a steal in the first quarter alone. Watson’s presence was dynamic. Westbrook had one of the best sequences of his season in a four-possession stretch. On offense, consecutive assists for dunks. On defense, an effective close-out against a Jay Huff three and a pickpocket.

Even Murray, whose shots weren’t falling early in the game, made up for it with good defensive energy. He and Julian Strawther, whose defense was called out by Malone on Sunday, both had two steals at halftime.

The Nuggets wanted to get Murray into a shooting rhythm after a lackluster first two games of the trip. He seemed frustrated after an early fast break when Braun passed to Saric under the basket instead of an open Murray at the 3-point line. Not long after, he missed his first outside attempt from that very spot on the left wing. After a few more misses, he passed an open three in the corner to drive baseline.

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) )
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) )