Jamal Murray scored 33 points and the Denver Nuggets withstood a late push to beat the Dallas Mavericks 118–109 on Wednesday night.
Denver built a comfortable lead early and was in control when Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg sprained his left ankle late in the second quarter. The No. 1 overall pick turned his ankle while defending Peyton Watson with 6:01 remaining before halftime and limped to the locker room. Flagg briefly returned to finish the half but was ruled out for the second half. He finished with six points in 15 minutes.
Aaron Gordon added 22 points for Denver, while Watson chipped in 18. The Nuggets led by as many as 23 before Dallas mounted a rally.
The Mavericks cut the deficit to five early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by rookie Ryan Nembhard, but former Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr. answered with a 3 to ignite a 13–2 Denver run. Murray capped the surge with a 3-pointer, pushing the Nuggets’ lead to 101–85.
Dallas made one final push, pulling within six in the final 1:12, but Murray sealed the win with a jumper from just above the free-throw line before Gordon knocked down two free throws.
Naji Marshall led Dallas with 24 points and Brandon Williams added 20, but the Mavericks struggled from long range, shooting a season-worst 5-of-34 (14.7%) from 3-point distance.
Dallas was further depleted when starting center Daniel Gafford was ruled out for the second half with a right ankle sprain. The Mavericks were already without Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss about six weeks with ligament damage in his left hand, and Dereck Lively II, who is out for the season following foot surgery.
Up next:
The Nuggets will host Washington on Saturday to open a three-game homestand. The Mavericks return home Thursday to begin a two-game set against Utah.
