‘We Just Kept Fighting’: Anthony Davis, Ryan Nembhard And Cooper Flagg Power Dallas Mavericks’ Comeback Win Over Denver Nuggets

Grant AfsethDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025no comment

Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, NBA

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

The Dallas Mavericks absorbed a 21–4 deficit, a 41-point first quarter from the Denver Nuggets, and another overpowering night from Nikola Jokić. Then they countered with their sharpest, most complete stretch of basketball this season. For a team still trying to stabilize its season, the early stretch on Monday night offered every reason to fold.

Instead, it turned into the benchmark of their resilience.

Dallas answered Denver’s early outburst with a 42-point second quarter, steadied itself through a back-and-forth third, and closed with a dominant 29–17 fourth quarter to beat the Nuggets 131–121 on Monday night at Ball Arena. The Mavericks improved to 7-15, winning consecutive games for the first time this season, while Denver fell to 14-6 and dropped its fourth straight at home.

The scoring swings reflected the volatility of the night: Denver 41–27, then Dallas 42–27, followed by Denver 36–33, and finally Dallas 29–17. The Mavericks played without starters P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, yet found enough poise, shot-making and defensive steadiness to close out one of their most unlikely victories.

At the center of the turnaround were rookie guard Ryan Nembhard, forward/center Anthony Davis and 18-year-old forward Cooper Flagg — a trio that steadied Dallas through every counterpunch Denver threw.

Ryan Nembhard Powers Dallas’ Turnaround

Undrafted rookie guard Ryan Nembhard delivered the best game of his career and the most pivotal performance of the night. He finished with 28 points, 10 assists, and no turnovers, shooting 12-of-14 from the field.

According to team officials, he became the first undrafted rookie in league history to record at least 25 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers, and the first rookie since Stephon Marbury in 1996 to do so.

Before offering praise, head coach Jason Kidd described how Nembhard’s decisiveness reshaped the night.

Kidd said Nembhard established control of the game by reading Denver’s coverage and creating offense without forcing the action. Kidd noted that Nembhard’s ability to touch the paint and make layered reads — whether kicking out to shooters like Max Christie or turning the corner for pull-ups — stabilized the team when the game appeared to be slipping away.

“He kind of took over the game,” Kidd said. “He’s been great since we put him in the starting lineup. Being able to find guys. Also his shot. To have 28 and 10, he controlled the game. The ball touches the paint and he finds Max Christie in the corner for a big three. He took what the defense had. He was really good tonight.”

For Nembhard, the strategy was straightforward. He explained that Jokić’s deep-drop defensive coverage created the exact openings he needed to attack the middle of the floor and dictate pace.

“Just trying to be aggressive during that deep drop with Jokić,” Nembhard said. “Just trying to get downhill and make plays.”

Anthony Davis Reasserts His Offensive Role

With Dallas still integrating new rotations amid ongoing injuries, Anthony Davis returned after sitting out Saturday’s win against the Los Angeles Clippers and delivered one of his most balanced two-way performances as a Maverick. Davis totaled 32 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks in 32 minutes, including a tip-dunk with 1:01 remaining that pushed the lead to 131–121 and ended Denver’s final push.

Davis said afterward that the early deficit didn’t shake the group — a feeling rooted in how frequently the Mavericks have been forced to climb back from early holes this season. He detailed how the team’s defensive response, communication and halfcourt execution sharpened as the game progressed, allowing them to regain control.

“That game’s not won in the first quarter,” Davis said. “We just kept fighting, kept falling back defensively and playing the right way on the offensive end. Even when we’re down, we’re still such a resilient team.”

Davis also pointed to Nembhard’s composure as a driving force. He explained that the rookie not only made plays, but managed the pace in a way that lifted the rest of the roster — especially during important second-half stretches.

“Ryan, man, he carried us,” Davis said. “Big shots, big plays, making the right reads to the right guys. He definitely got the game ball tonight.”

The altitude hit Davis early, but he framed the night as a test of mental toughness, particularly after several physical collisions in the paint.

“I was tired for sure, but it’s mental,” he said. “Trying to push through the fatigue and physically and mentally lock in.”

Cooper Flagg Delivers in the Closing Minutes

Entering the night, the Mavericks had leaned heavily on Cooper Flagg to provide scoring punch while navigating injuries. After scoring 35 points against the Clippers two nights earlier, Flagg followed up with 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block, playing with a blend of force and patience that belies his age.

Flagg’s impact peaked in the fourth quarter, when Dallas was clinging to a narrow lead. He delivered back-to-back baskets that extended the edge to 124–117 with 2:45 remaining, then continued pressuring Denver’s interior defense on drives and cuts. His work on the glass — particularly against Denver’s larger frontline — also helped Dallas control possessions in the final minutes.

Kidd described how Flagg’s performance sharpened as the game progressed, noting that the altitude adjustment likely contributed to his slower early rhythm. Once Flagg found his pace, Kidd said, Dallas leaned on him to generate paint touches and downhill pressure.

“Once he caught his breath, being able to take advantage of some of the things offensively,” Kidd said. “In the open court he’s one of the best in this league, only at 18. He delivered, especially down the stretch for us.”

Flagg said the Mavericks’ improved ball movement and spacing were critical to the fourth-quarter execution. He emphasized that Davis’ return naturally shifted defensive attention and created better driving lanes.

“We’re coming together,” Flagg said. “Having AD back is a huge help. Guys are meshing together, finding some of our roles, competing every single night.”

Nikola Jokić and Spencer Jones Set the Early Tone for Denver Nuggets

Denver’s scorching first quarter was driven by Nikola Jokić and Spencer Jones, who combined to overwhelm Dallas during the first eight minutes. Jokić finished with 29 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists and two blocks, and came close to a triple-double in the opening period alone. He dictated early action by dropping soft-touch jumpers, backing down mismatches and generating clean looks for cutters and shooters.

Jones added a career-best 28 points, including 19 in the first half, and punished Dallas’ early defensive gaps by hitting four 3-pointers and multiple cuts in transition and semi-transition.

As Dallas worked its way back into the game, Kidd reflected on the daunting nature of the early assignment. He said Jokić’s ability to read coverages and exploit even minor errors creates enormous pressure, especially when the players around him are hitting shots.

“We almost had trouble in the first quarter and we thought we were doing really good,” Kidd said. “That’s just who he is. He’s seen every defense… He’s really, really good.”

On the opposite sideline, Denver head coach David Adelman turned his focus to the Mavericks, offering a pointed assessment of Dallas’ ceiling when healthy.

“That team is extremely underrated when healthy,” Adelman said. “They’re going to be one of the better defensive teams in our league.”

Dallas Mavericks Win Fourth Quarter Behind Discipline and Shot-Making

Dallas saved its sharpest basketball for the closing stretch. The Mavericks held Denver to 17 fourth-quarter points, their fewest in any quarter at home this season. During that stretch, Dallas forced contested jumpers, cut off passing lanes that Jokić routinely manipulates, and secured multiple defensive rebounds to prevent second-chance points.

Flagg said the defensive turnaround stemmed from improved communication and discipline — the exact areas that hurt them in the first quarter.

“Just coming together,” he said. “Sticking to the game plan and having each other’s backs.”

The offensive execution matched the defensive surge. After Flagg’s late buckets, Nembhard drilled a pull-up jumper, Christie buried a corner three created by paint penetration, and Davis capped the night with a put-back dunk through contact.

Kidd said the fourth-quarter maturity showed how far the group has come through early-season adversity.

“This group has gotten down early in games and just found a way to keep fighting,” Kidd said. “Trust one another and keep working the game, and that’s what we did tonight.”

The Mavericks return home to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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