Jamal Murray's 17-Point Fourth Holds Off Memphis as Franz Wagner's 38 Lifts a Short-Handed Magic in Utah

Two Wednesday night NBA games came down to who could still make a play when the legs got heavy. In Memphis, Jamal Murray scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter as the Denver Nuggets held off the Grizzlies, 123-118 ^[1]. In Salt Lake City, Franz Wagner matched his career high with 38 points and carried a short-handed Orlando Magic team past the Utah Jazz, 123-108 ^[2].

Murray Closes, Johnson Delivers in Memphis

Denver never trailed at FedExForum and built an 18-point lead early in the second quarter, according to The Associated Press ^[1]. The Nuggets led 65-52 at the half, but Memphis came out of the locker room and poured in 38 points in the third quarter to make it a four-point game, 94-90, heading into the fourth ^[1].

The Grizzlies kept coming. Ty Jerome, who scored 11 of his 22 points in the final quarter, hit a basket with 2:42 left that pulled Memphis within 115-113 ^[1]. That is when Cameron Johnson took over. He scored Denver's next five points, including a 3-pointer off a pass from Nikola Jokic with 1:01 remaining that pushed the lead to 120-113 ^[1]. Cameron Boozer had one last chance for Memphis, but his 3-point try that would have tied the game missed with 6.9 seconds to go ^[1].

Murray finished with 30 points and eight assists. Jokic added 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Johnson scored 23 ^[1]. For Memphis, Jaylen Wells matched Jerome with 22 points, Cedric Coward had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Cam Spencer scored 15, and Boozer posted 13 points and 11 rebounds ^[1].

CBS Sports' game page lists Murray's season average at 25.8 points, with Jokic at 23.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists ^[3]. Denver (6-4) has now won five of its last seven ^[1].

Memphis (7-4) is trending the other way. The Grizzlies won their first six games but have dropped four of their last five, and the AP's records show where the trouble is: they are 2-4 at home and still unbeaten at 5-0 on the road ^[1]. Their previous game was a 118-102 win in Toronto on Monday, after which coach Tuomas Iisalo praised his team's defensive focus, according to a Field Level Media preview ^[3].

Wagner Carries the Magic in Utah

Orlando was missing a lot of firepower in Salt Lake City. Paolo Banchero (right ankle), Jalen Suggs (right knee), Jonathan Isaac (left knee) and Tristan da Silva (left calf) were all listed out before the game, according to a Field Level Media preview ^[4]. Utah was without Lauri Markkanen (right wrist), Keyonte George (right ankle), Jaren Jackson Jr. (torn right MCL) and Jusuf Nurkic (right foot) ^[4].

The Magic led 66-59 at halftime, but the Jazz won the third quarter 28-19, and a three-point play by Jaxson Hayes gave Utah a 74-71 lead along the way ^[2]. Brice Sensabaugh's 3-pointer later put the Jazz in front 96-95 in the fourth quarter ^[2].

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Orlando answered with an 18-3 run. Wagner had two baskets, two free throws and an assist on a Desmond Bane 3-pointer during the burst, and the Magic led 113-99 with 3:39 left ^[2]. Orlando outscored Utah 38-21 in the fourth quarter ^[2].

Wagner finished with 38 points and eight rebounds. Bane scored 25, and Anthony Black had 22 points and eight assists ^[2]. The Magic won the fast-break battle 14-3 and outscored the Jazz 40-28 in the paint ^[2]. Darryn Peterson led Utah with 22 points, Sensabaugh scored 19, and Ace Bailey added 18 points and a season-high four blocks ^[2].

Orlando (4-7) has won two straight and finished its four-game road trip with a 2-2 split ^[2]. Utah (1-11) has lost 10 in a row and has not held an opponent under 110 points all season ^[2].

Why It Matters

Nights like this are why the regular season matters. Denver's stars did not panic when the home crowd smelled a comeback. Murray took the big shots, Jokic kept making the right pass, and Johnson finished the job. That is how good teams win in November, and it is how they get ready for April.

Orlando's win says even more. With its best player and three other rotation pieces sitting, the Magic did not make excuses. Wagner carried the scoring, Black ran the offense, and the team defended and ran when it counted. There is a lesson in that for any team, or any family, going through a hard stretch: show up, do your job, and trust the people next to you.

For Utah, the losses are piling up with four key players sidelined, and the fourth quarter keeps slipping away from a young group still learning how to close.

What's Next

The Grizzlies visit New Orleans on Friday night, and the Nuggets play in New Orleans on Saturday night ^[1]. The Magic return home to face Milwaukee on Friday, while the Jazz head to Houston the same night ^[2].