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GG Jackson scores 44 points but Memphis Grizzlies season ends in loss to Nuggets
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- GG Jackson scores 44 points but Memphis Grizzlies season ends in loss to Nuggets
The Memphis Grizzlies wrapped up their 2023-24 season in a matchup against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets that affected playoff seeding. That statement wouldn't have been a surprise to many at the beginning of the season, but the fact that the Grizzlies were long out of the playoff hunt was.
Without 13 players , they played competitively for most of the first half, but Denver's talent started to take over in the third quarter. The Nuggets pulled away and defeated the Grizzlies 126-111 on Sunday afternoon at FedExForum.
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GG Jackson led the Grizzlies (27-55) with a career-high 44 points on 17-for-34 shooting. It was his fourth career game with at least 30 points and his first with more than 40. He added 12 rebounds and made four 3-pointers.
Jake LaRavia had 29 points and also made four 3-pointers for the Grizzlies.
The Nuggets (57-25) were led by Jamal Murray 's team-high 21 points. MVP favorite NIkola Jokic finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jokic was the only Nuggets player to surpass 30 minutes.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
GG Jackson goes out with a bang
Jackson's scoring ability was on full display one last time this season, and it was enough to send Grizzlies fans into the offseason with smiles on their faces. By the end of the third quarter, he had taken twice as many shots as any other Memphis player, but he was effective while doing so. He had 33 points through three quarters and 10 rebounds. From there, the hunt for 40 points was on. Denver made Jackson work for it, but he wouldn't be denied.
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Nikola Jokic leads cohesive Nuggets
Sunday's game showed the importance of talent and continuity. Jaren Jackson Jr. 's 66 games played led the Grizzlies this season. If he were on the Nuggets, that total would have ranked eighth. Four Denver starters played more games than Jackson did, and Sunday showed what that kind of consistency can lead to. All five starters not only scored in double figures, but each totaled at least three assists. Denver had 32 assists to the Grizzlies' 23.
When the Grizzlies have Ja Morant , Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart on the floor, they could have that kind of playmaking capability. For now, that trio had to watch the Nuggets showcase a championship brand of basketball.
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Fans show up in bunches
It was a big crowd in the season finale for the Grizzlies. Ja's father, Tee Morant, and former Grizzlies wing Tony Allen sat next to one another courtside. A few seats down, Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders took in the game. Grizzlies games haven't had the same electric vibes as recent years due to all of the injuries, but Grizzlies fans came out in large numbers one last time.
What's next
It's time for the offseason. The Grizzlies finished with their lowest win total since the 2017-18 season. The team will have decisions to make on adding frontcourt depth and best utilizing a first-round pick that's projected to fall in the top 10. Memphis currently has the seventh-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick. The draft lottery will be held on Sunday, May 12.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies season ends with home loss to Nikola Jokic's Nuggets
