When the dust settled on the Nuggets' 136-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nuggets had finally done something that 21 other teams have done since they first saw Nikola Jokic play his first game. They won their 10th game in a row, and the Nuggets are peaking into the playoffs at just the right time.
The Nuggets' winning streak started at home with a win over the Toronto Raptors on March 20th and hasn't stopped, and Jokic has seven triple-doubles during the 10-game streak.
Jokic had another triple in the third quarter, and he finished the game with 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus 2 steals. It's the 89th time Jokic has had a triple-double by the third quarter. He's still trying to make his mark on the MVP conversation, and the winning streak certainly helps.
However, it wasn't all fun and games in this one. The Nuggets allowed an alarming 72 points in the first half to the tanking Grizzlies, who only played nine players, including the 40-year-old Taj Gibson. But the Nuggets' defense held the Grizzlies to just 47 second-half points, and easily pulled away in the third quarter.
Balanced scoring effort led the way
But the balance the Nuggets had was epic. Eight different Nuggets scored in double digits, led by Jamal Murray's 26 points. All four main members of the bench rotation combined for 50 points, and the Nuggets were able to put the end-of-the-bench reserves in the game in garbage time.
Aaron Gordon, Jokic, and Christian Braun sat out the entire fourth quarter for rest. The Nuggets were able to exact their revenge on the Grizzlies, who were the last team to defeat the Nuggets before the 10-game winning streak started.
The streak has a great chance to continue
The Nuggets' remaining schedule might feature the toughest two teams in the Western Conference, but both could be winnable, allowing the winning streak to hit 12 before the season ends.
The OKC Thunder clinched the top seed in the West, and they won't have anything to play for when they visit Denver on Friday. And because of that, the San Antonio Spurs also won't be playing for anything in the Nuggets' season finale on Sunday.
Both teams could likely rest their stars or play them just enough minutes to meet the NBA's 65-game minimum for postseason awards. The Nuggets would welcome it.
The Nuggets control their destiny from here for the third seed, and the easier path to the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Nuggets fans would much rather have the Spurs in round two instead of the Thunder.