Ja Morant had 26 points as the Grizzlies beat the Nuggets in the first of two games between the teams this week.
Xavier Tillman had 12 points, while Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 11 each as Memphis snapped a three-game losing streak to the Nuggets.
In a well-played first half, Memphis took a 60-58 lead into the break as both teams shot better than 50% through much of the half. While the Grizzlies held the lead through the bulk of the half, the advantage never reached double digits. But the Nuggets were struggling from long distance. Jokic was 2 of 5 from 3-point range, but the rest of the team missed 14 of 15. By the time they entered the fourth, the Nuggets were 4 of 24 from outside the arc and Memphis held an 82-73 lead.Nuggets: Allowed an opponent to reach 100 points for only the second time this season. The only other team to pass the century mark was Utah in a 122-110 Jazz victory. ... Gordon left in the third quarter with a right eye injury.