The Dallas Mavericks secured a hard-fought 123-120 victory over the Denver Nuggets, overcoming a sizable loss of their lead and a triple-double performance by Nikola Jokic. Despite the absence of Luka Dončić, who was sidelined with a wrist injury, the Mavericks extended their winning streak to four games, demonstrating resilience and depth in their roster.
Naji Marshall was the standout for Dallas, coming off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, making significant contributions during crucial stretches of the game. P.J. Washington also played a vital role, tallying 22 points and 13 rebounds, helping to anchor the Mavericks' defense and provide additional scoring support. Kyrie Irving added 19 points, with 13 of those coming in a dominant second-quarter performance that helped Dallas build a commanding 73-53 lead at halftime. The Mavericks outscored the Nuggets 40-22 in that second quarter, an impressive margin that seemed to put the game out of Denver’s reach.
However, the Nuggets responded in the third quarter with a strong 18-2 run, trimming the Mavericks' lead and bringing the game back to a nail-biting finish. Jokic, returning to action after missing three games due to personal reasons, posted an extraordinary 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists in his triple-double effort, helping Denver claw back into the game. Despite Denver's late surge, the Mavericks held firm in the final minutes.
As the game entered its closing stages, the Nuggets managed to briefly take the lead, but the Mavericks answered back with clutch plays. Washington scored five consecutive points to tie the game, and then Quentin Grimes’ free throws along with Washington’s layup gave Dallas the decisive edge. The Nuggets came close, narrowing the gap to just one point twice in the final minute, but Dallas ultimately sealed the win.
In another game, the Golden State Warriors triumphed 112-108 over the New Orleans Pelicans, clinching a spot in the NBA Cup knockout stage. Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with a season-high 30 points, while Stephen Curry added 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The Warriors' win maintained their top spot in the Western Conference with a 12-3 record.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers broke their losing streak with a dominant 113-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Jared McCain was the hero for Philadelphia, scoring 30 points to lead a second-half comeback. Tyrese Maxey contributed 26 points as the 76ers recovered from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to secure the win. The Brooklyn Nets, despite a season-high 37 points from Cameron Johnson, could not hold onto their lead after halftime, suffering their second consecutive loss in the NBA Cup.
As the teams in the NBA Cup continue to battle it out, the Mavericks' win highlighted their ability to grind out tough victories, even in the absence of their star player Luka Dončić. The performance by Irving, Marshall, and Washington demonstrated the depth of the Mavericks’ roster, setting them up for a strong finish in the coming games. Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ late-game efforts and Jokic’s triple-double showed their ability to fight back, but ultimately, they fell short.
