November 11, 2026 at 8:34 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisNuggets Look to Lean on Jokić Against a Reshaped Grizzlies Team
Denver's steady form and Nikola Jokić's all-around production give it the edge over a Memphis team trying to stop a skid.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
Nikola Jokić sets the tone for Denver even when he isn't at full strength. He played through an elbow sprain in the 114-102 win over Indiana in Mexico City and finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, just short of his third triple-double of the season. Memphis will have to deal with a center who can score, rebound and create for others at once, and that is a hard assignment for a young frontcourt.
Denver also brings momentum. The Nuggets have won four of their last five, three of those on the road. Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Jokić were all upgraded to probable and are expected to start, though several are playing through bumps, including Murray's shin, Gordon's calf and Johnson's ankle. The wild card is travel. The trip home from Mexico was delayed nearly a full day, which could cancel out the rest Denver gained from a comfortable win.
Memphis was the last unbeaten team at 6-0 but has lost three straight and sits at 6-3. This is a different group from the Ja Morant era. Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells are the young core, with Ty Jerome as the veteran playmaker. The Grizzlies' best path is pace. They rank 3rd in defensive rebounds (35.9) and 5th in fastbreak points (17.3), so Denver must secure the ball and get back in transition. Memphis is only 23rd in forcing turnovers (14.8), which should help Denver stay organized.
Expect Memphis to score in bursts on the break, but Denver's half-court control and Jokić's playmaking should decide it late. Prediction: Nuggets 118, Grizzlies 110.