The Dallas Mavericks were in downtown Denver for the third game of the NBA Cup’s Group Stage against the Denver Nuggets. The Mavericks acknowledged guard Brandon Williams’ 25th birthday and made the business trip a little more special. The Mavericks entered Denver with an 8-7 record and a three-game winning streak in hand, while the Nuggets had an 8-5 record and a one-game win streak in hand.
The Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 123-120 at Ball Arena. Dallas improved to 9-7, while Denver fell to 8-6. Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 26 points, one rebound, and one assist. PJ Washington followed up with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist. Kyrie Irving added 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Quentin Grimes had 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Daniel Gafford scored 13 points, six rebounds, and one assist.
Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets’ game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks’ injury report listed Luka Doncic, Kessler Edwards, Dante Exum, Jazian Gortman, and Brandon Williams out, while the Nuggets’ injury report listed Aaron Gordon, Vlatko Cancar, DaRon Holmes II, Spencer Jones, and Jalen Pickett out. Together, Dallas and Denver had a combined ten players out for several reasons.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup consisted of Kyrie Irving, Quentin Grimes, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Dereck Lively II. Irving is eligible to enter unrestricted free agency following the 2024-25 NBA season, but the Mavericks will put a big number on the table for him, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. He has a $43.9 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season, but his current play hints that he could earn more on the open market.
The first quarter was a high-scoring affair between the Mavericks and Nuggets. Naji Marshall got buckets, Quentin Grimes scored 10 quick points, and Daniel Gafford was on the attack. Nikola Jokic had an 11-point first quarter in his much-anticipated return to the court. But the Mavericks came out on top with a 33-31 lead over the Nuggets after the first.
The second quarter was rather low-key but a thriller nonetheless. Daniel Gafford recovered the ball to hammer it home. Gafford powerfully executed a dunk, which was arguably a highlight-reel moment. Nikola Jokic managed to get past Dereck Lively II to score a successful rim shot. But the Mavericks mustered a 73-53 lead over the Nuggets at the halftime break.
The third quarter saw the Nuggets creep up on the Mavericks. Michael Porter Jr.’s third triple was a part of the Nuggets’ 15-4 run. The Nuggets showed Denver Broncos wide receiver and return specialist, Marvin Mims Jr., and Chicago Red Stars forward and Littleton, Colorado, native, Mallory Pugh, were in attendance. The Mavericks held off the Nuggets’ scoring surge for a 95-89 lead after three quarters.
The fourth quarter witnessed the continuation of the Nuggets’ scoring surge. Russell Westbrook’s third triple was a highlight in the opening minutes, while DeAndre Jordan’s alley-oop garnered attention from the home crowd. But the Mavericks shined with Daniel Gafford’s catch and finish, Dereck Lively II’s back-to-back blocks, and a 9-0 run to hold off the Nuggets 123-120 at the end of regulation.
Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets’ game featured various highlights, such as the pregame injury update of Luka Doncic, who was out for the Mavericks’ three-game road trip due to a right wrist sprain sustained in Tuesday night’s 132-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. Doncic will be re-evaluated in one week.
For the Mavericks, Klay Thompson can feel big nights coming for the Mavericks. Thompson reportedly told the Mavericks’ strength coach he can be inconsistent from the arc, but one explosive night can help him get going. To add to Thompson’s statement, Kyrie Irving could help the Mavericks’ cause, as Irving has been doing a little bit of everything in recent weeks.
And, for the Nuggets, some, if not most, NBA fans were concerned about Nikola Jokic and his family. Jokic didn’t attend the Nuggets’ Friday practice due to personal reasons. Before the three-game absence, Jokic averaged 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game over ten games. Jokic returned to the Nuggets’ starting lineup after welcoming a newborn son with his wife, Natalija Macesic, a psychology graduate and former volleyball player.
Final Thoughts
Injuries have seemed to be more prevalent in this young NBA season. Many teams, including the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, are dealing with stars missing time on the sidelines. As a result, coaches must adapt and be creative with the tweaking of starting lineups. Teams like the Mavericks and Pelicans have players skilled at starting or coming off the bench.
Despite the injuries, Dallas defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in front of a sellout crowd of 20,077 at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. The Mavericks’ blowout of the Pelicans improved its record to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in the 2024 NBA Cup Nights games as of Tuesday, November 19. The Mavericks avoided a slow start with a 44-point first quarter and never looked back for their third straight win.
The Mavericks will travel to Miami, Florida, to take on the Miami Heat in a non-conference game on Sunday, November 24 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Previously, Miami defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 106-89 at the Kaseya Center in Miami’s Biscayne Bay on Monday night. The Heat improved to 6-7, while the 76ers fell to 2-11 as of Tuesday, Nov. 19.
