Brandon Williams stepped to the line with the Dallas Mavericks down one and a chance to tie. He missed both free throws. Nikola Jokić went right back to work, and the game was over.
That sequence, with 3:58 left in the fourth quarter, turned what had been a remarkable comeback into another entry on a growing list of near-misses. Jamal Murray scored a season-high 53 points, Jokić finished with 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists — becoming the first player in NBA history to post 20-plus points, 17-plus rebounds, and 17-plus assists in consecutive games — and the Denver Nuggets held off the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 on Wednesday night at Ball Arena.
Dallas fell to 23-50 and has now lost five straight and 24 of its last 28 games. Cooper Flagg scored 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, and was spotted postgame with his right hand heavily wrapped and iced after injuring it on an awkward landing in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks have not issued an official injury designation.
Denver improved to 46-28, winning its fourth consecutive game and remaining tied for fourth in the Western Conference.
“You can’t stop him, you’re not going to stop him, just try and give him different looks,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Jokić. “With all that being said, we were at the free-throw line down one. Unfortunately, we didn’t make them, and they come down and capitalize. Then we turn the ball over when we had an opportunity at a three. They took advantage of our mistakes late.”
Jamal Murray Was Untouchable
Murray put Dallas in a hole before the Mavericks could find their footing. He had 15 points in the first quarter alone, going 6-of-9 from the field with two 3-pointers and a free throw, consistently finding angles off the bounce that left Dallas’s defenders scrambling.
He added 18 more in the second quarter, including three consecutive 3-pointers to close the half as the Nuggets pushed their lead to 11 at 68-57. His 33 first-half points tied Allen Iverson and Jokić for the most first-half points by a Nuggets player since the play-by-play era.
“Jamal’s shot-making was insane, so many tough shots off the bounce,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “53 on 28 shots is such a great number. I mean 53 from your point guard and 23, 21, and 19 from your center. Just an outrageous number from the best tandem in the NBA.”
After Dallas clamped down on him in the third quarter — he took just 2 shots — Murray made them pay again in the fourth. He hit a step-back 3-pointer to push the lead to 11 early in the period, then delivered back-to-back shots late, including a 19-foot step-back jumper and a 3-pointer, to make it 138-128 after Dallas had pulled within one.
“We just played together, played fast,” Murray said. “We wanted to make the most out of this back-to-back and get the dub, and I feel like we came out with good energy.”
Murray finished 19-of-28 from the field with 9 3-pointers made on 14 attempts, his fourth career 50-point game.
Adelman also pointed to Murray’s willingness to defer in the third quarter after his explosive first half.
“Patience is a virtue,” Adelman said. “He wanted to shoot the ball obviously, but they adjusted and put two people on him. As the game went on, he did a really good job finding space for himself. The right thing was to find the pocket and our center, who’s arguably the best passer alive. Just another special night for Jamal.”
Flagg acknowledged there was no clean answer for Murray on his best night.
“It was impressive. I don’t think we did a terrible job, honestly, but he was just hot,” Flagg said. “Some of the shots he was making, they just came out on fire. I thought in the second half we came out and started a lot better on him and kind of cut his water off a little bit, but he was able to get back going again down the stretch. He’s an incredible player and he was hot.”
Washington was equally direct.
“It’s tough,” Washington said. “Just try to limit his threes, contest each and every shot, and limit fouls. He’s a great player, obviously an All-Star this year, and he had a great game tonight.”
Nikola Jokić Makes More History
As Murray was lighting up the scoreboard, Jokić was orchestrating everything else. He operated mainly in transition in the first half, setting up Murray and teammates in the open court, then shifted to the post in the second half as Dallas’s double-teams gave him more room to create. He recorded his 30th triple-double of the season and joined Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history with multiple seasons of 30 or more triple-doubles.
Jokić’s 19 assists were a season high. He finished with 21 rebounds — 9 offensive — and converted 6 of 6 free throws. He also blocked a Dwight Powell shot in the third quarter that kept Dallas from getting within striking range earlier than it did.
“I mean for me, especially when Jamal is having that kind of game, just trying to get him open,” Jokić said. “I know he’s going to take and make shots. They started blitzing him and it was my turn to get everybody involved.”
When asked if he tries to play a beautiful brand of basketball, Jokić was characteristically blunt.
“I don’t know if it’s beautiful. When we pass around and get open looks, it’s beautiful, but is it really important?” Jokić said. “I would rather just win games than play beautiful.”
Murray offered his own assessment of his running mate.
“He’s just taking what the defense is giving him,” Murray said. “Just playing his game, not really rushing things. Twenty-one rebounds — the ball’s not coming to you every single time. It’s just impressive what he’s able to do every single night.”
Flagg watched Jokić for nearly 36 minutes and left with a new frame of reference.
“I think I can learn a lot from him — just how he reads the game,” Flagg said. “But I don’t know if anyone can get to that level. It’s incredible how he impacts the game. Sometimes it feels like he’s not even trying and he ends up with 20-20-20. It’s crazy to be out there and see how he affects everything.”
Washington, asked about processing a near 20-20-20 from the opposing center, was matter-of-fact.
“At this point, everybody’s used to it. We know how good he is,” Washington said. “You just try not to foul, contest as best you can, and push the ball on misses to make him run. He’s one of the best.”
Strong Start Until Jamal Murray’s Takeover
The game opened with neither team establishing control for long. Dallas led by as many as 4 in the first quarter on a Naji Marshall turnaround and a Washington running alley-oop dunk off a Marshall assist. But Denver consistently responded.
Murray hit a 3-pointer off a Jokić pass, and after Tyler Smith hit back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to 28-26 late, Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a fast-break 3-pointer with 1:50 left to push the lead back to 7. Brandon Williams hit 2 finger-roll layups in the final 35 seconds to trim it to 34-33 heading to the second quarter.
Dallas had zero turnovers in the first quarter and zero in the second. After committing 21 against Golden State two days earlier, the ball security was a night-and-day improvement against a team that leads the league in forcing turnovers.
The second quarter belonged to Murray, but Dallas made him earn it. The Mavericks led 39-36 early on a Flagg driving dunk off a Ryan Nembhard assist, and briefly pushed ahead 44-40 on a John Poulakidas 3-pointer. Murray brought Denver right back with a fast-break pullup 3-pointer to tie it at 44 before the Mavericks went up again. The lead changed hands 10 times in the period.
Then Murray took it. He hit a running 3-pointer off a Jokić pass, then a step-back 3-pointer, then back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 80 seconds to push the lead from three to 11. Jokić hit a 3-pointer of his own in the sequence. Dallas went into halftime trailing 68-59, having committed zero turnovers and shot 46% from the field, but still down 9.
“To have zero turnovers in the first half — that had to be a record,” Kidd said. “To finish with four for the game shows we took care of the ball and got good looks. Some went in, some didn’t, but when you take care of the ball, you give yourself a chance.”
Dallas Mavericks Fight Back After Halftime
The third quarter was Dallas at its scrappiest. Marshall was particularly aggressive, converting free throws at both ends of drives through contact on his way to 7 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the line in the period. The Mavericks got within two on multiple occasions, and at 80-73 after Flagg tipped in his own miss with 7:58 left, it felt like a real contest.
Marvin Bagley III came off the bench and contributed 5 points on 2-of-2 shooting, including an alley-oop dunk off a Khris Middleton assist. Washington added a tip dunk off an offensive rebound, and Middleton hit a mid-range fadeaway and converted a foul to make it 93-92 with 3:07 left.
But Jokić kept answering. He hit a turnaround hook, then two free throws, and Bruce Brown buried a 3-pointer before Peyton Watson‘s cutting dunk with 5.8 seconds left pushed the lead back to 13. Watson finished with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the Denver bench, a performance that kept the lead out of Dallas’s reach every time the Mavericks threatened.
Dallas was outscored by Denver 43-41 in the quarter, leaving them trailing 111-100 heading to the fourth.
One Free Throw Swing Away
Dallas came out of the fourth-quarter timeout and methodically cut the lead. Washington hit a bank shot and two free throws. Middleton, who finished with 11 points and 5 assists in 17 minutes, hit a 3-pointer and a turnaround fadeaway off two Ryan Nembhard assists. Flagg drove for a dunk and then buried a step-back 3-pointer to make it 127-116. Max Christie hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 6, Washington hit a tip dunk, and Christie knocked down another 3-pointer with 4:20 left to make it 127-126.
Dallas had the lead within one. Denver went into a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Marshall fouled Christian Braun, who made one of two free throws to push the lead to 128-126. Then Jokić was called for his fifth foul, and Williams stepped to the line. He missed both. Jokić grabbed the rebound, took the ball up the court, and hit a floating bank shot off a Murray pass to make it 130-126. Watson hit a 3-pointer two possessions later to push it to 133-126, and Washington converted a cutting dunk off a Williams pass to make it 133-128. Murray then buried a 3-pointer and a step-back jumper in quick succession to close it out.
“With all that being said, those two, we were at the free-throw line down one,” Kidd said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t make them, and they come down and capitalize.”
Flagg scored Dallas’s final 7 points of the game — a driving bank hook, a free throw, and a pull-up jumper off a Marshall pass — but it was too little too late. He finished with 12 points in the fourth quarter alone.
“I thought it was much better being organized,” Flagg said of the ball security. “Brandon Williams coming back obviously helps with that, having the extra ball-handling out there. Ryan Nembhard did a great job, and Naji did as well. It was just a much better job of getting everybody organized and getting into our spacing.”
P.J. Washington’s Rebounding
Washington was a force on the glass all night in Gafford’s absence. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 15 rebounds — 4 offensive — in 31 minutes, his most active rebounding performance of the season. He converted multiple second-chance opportunities himself, including a tip dunk in the third quarter and a cutting dunk in the fourth. Often deployed as the primary big in small-ball lineups, Washington also added 1 assist, committed 6 fouls, and blocked 1 shot.
“They didn’t really have any shot-blockers down there,” Washington said. “My biggest thing is when my teammates drive, just try to be there, clean up the glass, and get as many rebounds as I can and just help my team in that way.”
Washington also said returning to health has made a tangible difference.
“It feels great. I’m excited to be back healthy,” Washington said. “It sucks it’s this late in the season, but I’m just trying to stay ready, stay healthy, and keep going. Credit to my teammates for continuing to play hard.”
He had nothing but praise for Flagg’s performance in a losing effort.
“That’s Cooper. We know what we’re going to get from him,” Washington said. “He’s a great player, a young player who’s learning every game. I told him to be aggressive — they didn’t have shot blocking, so he could get to the rim. He’s passing at a high level, rebounding, defending — doing it all. He’s just going to keep getting better.”
Cooper Flagg’s Hand Injury
Flagg was spotted postgame with his right hand heavily wrapped and iced, after injuring it on an awkward landing during a fourth-quarter jump ball. He also cut his left elbow on the play but finished the game. The Mavericks have not issued an official designation.
“Doing okay,” Flagg said. “It’s tough — a lot of minutes, back-to-back overtime games, physical games. Just got to take care of my body and get ready for the next one.”
Kidd was asked whether Flagg is becoming more assertive as games progress.
“I don’t know if it’s new — he’s been doing this,” Kidd said. “It’s about being consistent. Finding his teammates, making plays with the assists, and then finding his offense. Getting to the free-throw line is something he’s improved on. Defensively, he’s come up with some steals too.”
Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 61 games this season.
Supporting Cast
Marshall finished with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, going 7-of-8 from the free-throw line and adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes. Christie contributed 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting with 3 3-pointers made in 31 minutes.
Williams, making his return from three games in the concussion protocol, finished with 11 points and 6 assists in 19 minutes. Powell drew the start at center in Gafford’s absence and contributed 7 points on 5-of-7 free-throw shooting with 4 rebounds and a block in 16 minutes.
“I think he was himself tonight. He’s just happy to be back, and we’re happy for him too.” Washington said of Williams being back. “He’s just being himself and being the great player he is.”
Smith gave Dallas 8 points on 3-of-5 shooting — all three of his makes coming from 3-point range — in just under 8 minutes. Thompson, who played only 11 minutes, went 3-of-6 from the field including 2-of-2 from deep for 8 points. Nembhard dished 4 assists in 12 minutes while Bagley came off the bench for 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 17 minutes.
Off the Bench for the Denver Nuggets
Watson’s 21 points off the bench were the difference in stretches. He was 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line and hit 2 3-pointers. Cameron Johnson added 12 points and 3 assists in the starting lineup.
Brown hit a key 3-pointer late in the third quarter, and Julian Strawther came off the bench to bury a 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to 10 with 32.9 seconds left in the third.
“Bruce made a big three, Peyton made a big three, Julian made a big three to push it back to 10,” Adelman said. “A lot of different people making big shots off of those two guys’ unbelievable night.”
The Record Says What It Says
Dallas shot 49.5% from the field and went 27-of-34 from the free-throw line. The Mavericks committed just 4 turnovers all game after giving it away 21 times Monday night against Golden State. Their 10 offensive rebounds produced 16 second-chance points, compared to Denver’s 8. None of it was enough.
“We’re sharing the ball better and trying to run our offense through the paint with the mismatches we want, and then playing off that,” Washington said.
Kidd acknowledged the defense has been the inconsistent piece.
“We’re scoring the ball, but we’re giving up points. That’s the league right now — teams are scoring at a high clip,” Kidd said. “Our offense has been really good, but our defense hasn’t been consistent. Some nights, your offense has to carry you.”
“When you look at the record, sometimes it’s not the truth — but it is,” Kidd added. “We’ve been in a lot of close games, but we haven’t won them. That’s something for us to learn from and get better for next time.”
Flagg, who has been in nearly every one of those close games, finds the value in the losing.
“I think it’s a great experience for us. A lot of these games are coming down to the wire,” Flagg said. “For me especially, I’ve been in a lot of these moments, so it’s good experience to keep developing and getting comfortable.”
Who Didn’t Play
Dallas was without Daniel Gafford (right shoulder sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Caleb Martin (right plantar fascia strain), and Moussa Cissé (G League).
Denver was without Aaron Gordon (right hamstring, injury management).
Portland Awaits on Friday
The Mavericks visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. An official update on Flagg’s hand is expected on Thursday’s injury report.
More Dallas Mavericks Coverage After the Loss in Denver
- ‘Get Ready For The Next One’: Cooper Flagg Addresses Right Hand Injury After Dallas Mavericks’ Loss To Denver Nuggets
- New NBA Mock Draft Links Dallas Mavericks To Guard Compared To Jamal Murray
- ‘I Like Making The Right Play’: Cooper Flagg Shows Decision‑Making Beyond His Years As NBA’s Youngest Player
- Dallas Mavericks Hope To Hire Permanent General Manager Before NBA Draft, Rick Welts Says
- ‘I Like Where Things Are Headed’: Khris Middleton Open To Future With Dallas Mavericks
