Double. Overtime. Also known as 10 minutes of free basketball in Denver that nobody asked for. The Nuggets were on top, 139-137, when the final buzzer sounded. It was too little, too late from De’Anthony Melton, who sank a three at the buzzer. So, after leading by as many as 13 points, the Grizzlies dropped the third game of the current seven-game road trip by a measly two points.
Melton returned from injury and demonstrated exactly why the Grizzlies gave him a multi-year contract over the summer. He missed eight games, came back, and torched the Nuggets with six of 10 from beyond the arc. Impressive, but ultimately not enough to push the Grizzlies to victory.
There are good reasons why Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is the likely MVP, and they were on display. With Jonas Valančiūnas out due to concussion protocol, Xavier Tillman Sr. was left as the man-to-man matchup against Jokić. Which was less than ideal. Jokić had a game-high 47 points, including a clutch three-point basket near the end of the second overtime period that basically sealed the deal for the Nuggets.
This was one of those games that, logically, shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Memphis taking the L, but in practice it was excruciating.
I could point to several careless mistakes that contributed to the loss, but it felt so incredibly close — up until the last two minutes of the second overtime.
It should be a learning experience for the young bears, who have struggled to close out games in close situations all season. But in the stretch run leading up to the end of the season, every game counts for the purposes of potential playoff or play-in seeding, and this game may well haunt the Grizzlies down the line.
By The Numbers:
Ja Morant lead the Grizzlies with 36 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists, three steals and a block for good measure.
Melton lived up to his Mr. Do Something moniker in his first game back from injury, finishing with 25 points, eight rebound, six assists and four steals, including six of 10 from beyond the arc.
Grayson Allen closed out with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Xavier Tillman Sr. had the misfortune of being paired against Nikola Jokić, but he still came away with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
And Kyle Anderson was once again a quiet difference-maker, with 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Bonus: Things I Learned From Google While Questioning My Life During Commerical Breaks in Overtime
According to Basketball Reference, Xavier Tillman Sr. (at 6’8”) is somehow only three actual inches shorter than Nikola Jokić’s 6’11”. That seems low.
The Denver Nuggets mascot is a mountain lion named Rocky, and not a nugget. Which feels like a missed opportunity for Mile High City.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies head to Los Angeles, where they will face the Clippers on Wednesday, April 21st. Tip-off is at 9 p.m.
