DALLAS — In an exciting finish, the Denver Nuggets overcame a significant deficit to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 112-101 on Sunday. Russell Westbrook had an impressive performance, finishing the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Nikola Jokic contributed 19 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets found themselves trailing by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter, and they were still behind 12 points at the start of the fourth. Remarkably, they turned the game around by outscoring the Mavericks 33-12 in the final period.
Despite struggling with their 3-point shooting for most of the game, the Nuggets managed to convert 3 of their 7 attempts in the fourth quarter. In stark contrast, the Mavericks failed to make a single 3-pointer, missing all 11 of their attempts in the final quarter. This victory marked the Nuggets’ 12th win in their last 17 games.
Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 25 points, but the team has struggled while playing without their All-Star guards, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who are sidelined due to injuries. Thompson failed to score in the fourth quarter, going 0 for 4 on his shots, all of which were from beyond the arc.
In terms of statistics, the Nuggets now hold a record of 23-15, putting them eight games above the .500 mark for the first time this season. They have also shown strong performance with a 12-3 record when both Jokic and Westbrook are in the starting lineup. Interestingly, the team struggled with their 3-point shooting throughout the game, finishing with a season-low 21.9% from long range (7 for 32). Aaron Gordon made his return after a Christmas injury, contributing 13 points on an impressive 6 for 7 shooting, alongside six rebounds, in just 18 minutes of play.
On the Mavericks’ side, Luka Doncic, who was a finalist for last season’s MVP award, remains ineligible for this season’s MVP discussions, as he has not been able to play in the required number of regular-season games.
One of the pivotal moments during the game occurred when Jokic outmaneuvered the Mavericks’ forward P.J. Washington to score a finger-roll basket with just over four minutes left on the clock. This basket allowed the Nuggets to take a 99-96 lead, creating the first advantageous lead of more than one point for them in the game.
In terms of scoring inside the paint, the Nuggets dominated, outscoring the Mavericks 68-40.
Looking ahead, the two teams are set to clash again on Tuesday night in Dallas, marking their final regular-season matchup this year.
