The Denver Nuggets continued their late-season push Wednesday night, coming away with a 142-135 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. In a fast-paced, high-efficiency game, Denver leaned on a huge scoring night from Jamal Murray and another all-around masterpiece from Nikola Jokic to build enough separation before holding off Dallas in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks kept pressure on the scoreboard throughout the second half, but the Nuggets’ offensive execution gave them the edge in a game that featured 277 total points.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First Quarter: The teams traded baskets from the opening tip, and neither side created much room early. Denver edged Dallas 34-33 in the period, with both offenses finding a rhythm right away. The Nuggets were slightly sharper in half-court execution, while the Mavericks matched them with steady shot-making to keep the game within one possession.
Second Quarter: Denver began to take control in the second, outscoring Dallas 34-26. The Nuggets moved the ball well and consistently turned good possessions into high-percentage looks, extending their lead to nine points by halftime at 68-59. That stretch proved important, as Denver created the cushion it would rely on later in the night.
Third Quarter: Offense remained the theme after the break. Dallas responded with one of its best scoring periods, putting up 41 points, but Denver answered with 43 of its own in an up-and-down quarter. Rather than allowing the Mavericks to erase the deficit, the Nuggets maintained control and took a 111-100 lead into the fourth. It was the highest-scoring quarter of the game and a clear example of Denver matching every Dallas surge.
Fourth Quarter: The Mavericks made one more push, outscoring Denver 35-31 in the final period, but the Nuggets managed the closing minutes well enough to secure the result. Dallas stayed within striking distance thanks to continued production across the lineup, yet Denver’s earlier work and timely offense prevented the comeback from fully materializing.
Key performers
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: Murray led all scorers with 53 points and added six rebounds, delivering one of the most productive individual scoring performances of Denver’s season. He was the clear headliner in a game where the Nuggets needed offense for all four quarters.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: Jokic once again shaped the entire game with his playmaking and control of the glass. He finished with 21 rebounds and 19 assists, powering Denver’s 36-assist team performance and helping the Nuggets generate efficient looks throughout the night.
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: Flagg paced Dallas with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in an encouraging all-around showing. He gave the Mavericks a reliable scoring option while also contributing as a playmaker.
P.J. Washington, Mavericks: Washington made a major impact on the boards, finishing with 15 rebounds. His work on the glass helped Dallas stay competitive, especially during its second-half push.
Game analysis
This game came down to offensive efficiency and Denver’s ability to maximize its possessions. The Nuggets shot 56.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range, numbers that were difficult for Dallas to overcome even with 135 points of its own. Denver also recorded 36 assists on 50 made field goals, a sign of how connected its offense looked across the night.
Dallas produced a strong offensive outing as well, shooting 49.5 percent from the field and scoring at least 33 points in three of the four quarters. The Mavericks also got to the free-throw line 34 times and made 27, which helped them stay close. But Denver’s perimeter accuracy and its ability to answer every run, especially in the third quarter, gave the home team the necessary margin.
The rebounding battle was close, with Denver finishing ahead 45-42, and neither team had trouble generating points. The difference was that the Nuggets were more precise in key stretches, particularly in the second quarter when they created separation and in the third when they matched Dallas basket for basket instead of giving away momentum.
Closing context
The win moved Denver to 46-28 overall and 22-13 at home, an important result as the Western Conference playoff race continues to tighten in the final stretch of the regular season. Dallas dropped to 23-50 and 9-27 on the road. For the Nuggets, this was another reminder of how difficult they are to contain when Murray is scoring at a high level and Jokic is directing the offense. For the Mavericks, the offensive positives were real, but the defensive numbers left too much ground to make up against a contender on its home floor.
