Dallas Mavericks Catch Up, But Ultimately Lose 118-109

The Dallas Mavericks continued the four-game homestand against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. But the Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 118-109 at the American Airlines Center. Denver improved to 28-13, while Dallas fell to 15-26.

In case you missed it, Dallas defeated the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 at the American Airlines Center on Monday night. Cooper Flagg led the Mavs with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 28 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Flagg’s performance earned Player of the Game honors on Tuesday. Flagg, 19, has more 25-point, five-rebound and five-assist games than the rest of the 2025 NBA rookie class combined. The 19-year-old also received the NBA Rookie Ladder award on Wednesday.

Klay Thompson knocked down his 2,800th career three-pointer at the 8:50 mark of the fourth quarter, becoming the fifth player in NBA history to reach the mark. Thompson, 35, is now five three-pointers shy of passing Damian Lillard (2,804) for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goal list.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets Starters

Dallas’ starting lineup featured Jaden Hardy, Naji Marshall, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. Dallas ruled out Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Anthony Davis (finger) and Max Christie (illness).

Denver’s starting lineup featured Jamal Murray, Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, and Aaron Gordon. Denver ruled out Tamar Bates (foot), Cameron Johnson (knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Christian Braun (ankle) and Nikola Jokic (knee).

Mavericks vs. Nuggets Recap

The Mavericks sported their Pegasus City jerseys — the black jerseys with silver text and blue detailing — on Wednesday. The first 10,000 fans received a 7-Eleven coffee cup.

The Nuggets came in hot. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the league in mid-range field goal percentage at 62.5%. Jamal Murray is the only player in NBA history averaging 25+ points per game, with seven-plus assists and 44% in three-point field goal shooting percentage. Peyton Watson joined Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant as the only NBA players with 125+ points, 15% three-point makes, 15+ steals and blocks, and 60% in three-point percentage over five games.

Both teams saw a slow start to open the first quarter. Daniel Gafford evaded Spencer Jones for a rim shot. Klay Thompson hit a corner three-pointer. Peyton Watson hit a corner three-pointer of his own. Jamal Murray went coast-to-coast for a strong finish. Denver picked up the pace. Dallas cut the lead but pulled away. Denver took a 29-23 lead to end the first.

The Mavs stumbled in the second quarter. Dallas’ three-point shooting became nearly non-existent. The Nuggets went on a 9-4 run for a double-digit lead. Denver’s depth remained intact. Jalen Pickett drove through contact to get a jumper. The Mavs picked up the pace, but the Mavs’ efforts became short-lived. Denver took a 63-46 lead into halftime.

The third quarter witnessed a sluggish start but slowly shrugged off the slow pace. Cooper Flagg suffered a left ankle sprain and didn’t return to the game. Ryan Nembhard entered in place of Flagg. Daniel Gafford sustained a right ankle sprain and didn’t return. Denver took a 19-point lead by the halfway mark. Denver took an 88-78 lead through three quarters.

The Mavs made it a five-point game, but the Nuggets quickly went on a 13-2 run, thanks to Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson’s offensive performances. Dallas picked up the pace but failed to tie with or surpass Denver’s lead. Denver won 118-109 in regulation.

Final Thoughts

The Mavs continue the homestand against the Utah Jazz on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Central. Dallas can beat Utah by improving the defense, capitalizing on scoring opportunities, and communicating on both defense and offense.

The Nuggets open a three-game homestand against the Washington Wizards on Saturday at 7 p.m. Mountain. Denver may struggle to win without Nikola Jokic but can defy the odds by maintaining offense, focusing on defense, and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.