In an exhilarating matchup, the Dallas Mavericks edged out the Denver Nuggets with a nail-biting score of 131-130. Cooper Flagg delivered an impressive performance with 33 points, alongside nine rebounds and nine assists. Anthony Davis also shone brightly, contributing 31 points and pulling down nine rebounds.
Flagg’s fourth three-pointer of the night marked a career high for him and gave the Mavericks a crucial 126-121 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game. He further showcased his playmaking skills by assisting Naji Marshall for a left-corner three that extended the Mavericks’ lead to 131-125 with only 1:12 left on the clock.
The Nuggets faced an uphill battle early in the game, falling behind 50-29 at one point during the second quarter. However, they rallied back and even took their first lead of the game at 106-103 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. As the game wound down, the Nuggets closed the gap to just one point. They had a chance to clinch the victory after forcing a 24-second shot clock violation against the Mavericks with only 7.8 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Denver, Peyton Watson's buzzer-beater three-point attempt from the left corner bounced off the rim, denying them the win.
This victory was particularly sweet for the Mavericks as it ended a two-game losing streak, a stretch where they had notably lost leads in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks have now won both encounters against the Nuggets this season, having previously triumphed 131-121 in Denver on December 1.
On the Nuggets’ side, Jamal Murray performed admirably with 31 points and 14 assists, while superstar Nikola Jokic added 29 points and 14 assists to his tally. Despite their efforts, Denver's impressive 11-game road winning streak came to an end. Jokic, who leads the NBA with an average of 12.1 rebounds per game, matched his season low by grabbing just seven boards in this contest.
Adding to the drama, Denver's Tim Hardaway Jr., a former Maverick, equaled his season highs by scoring 23 points and sinking seven three-pointers.
Both teams were coming off back-to-back games, with the Nuggets having secured a solid 135-112 victory over Utah the previous day, while the Mavericks suffered a defeat against New Orleans, losing 119-113.
With the Nuggets taking their first lead at the start of the fourth, Flagg also showcased his scoring prowess by tying his career-high for points in a single quarter with 14 in the first quarter, hitting all seven of his field-goal attempts, including two three-pointers.
Unfortunately, the game wasn’t without its injuries; Nuggets forward Cam Johnson exited in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a knee injury. Coach David Adelman stated that the severity of the injury would be assessed following an MRI.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, while the Mavericks are set to visit the Golden State Warriors.
