Key Takeaways:
- Jamal Murray recorded 33 points as Denver secured a 118-109 win over Dallas
- Top draft pick Cooper Flagg sprained his left ankle and did not return for the second half
- Mavericks shot a season-low 14.7% from beyond the arc, making 5 of 34 attempts
Match Analysis
Jamal Murray delivered an impressive performance with 33 points, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 118-109 away victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The encounter on Wednesday night was marked by setbacks for Dallas as their rookie sensation, Cooper Flagg, was forced to exit after suffering a left ankle sprain late in the second quarter. The top overall pick and former Duke standout managed just six points in 15 minutes before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
The Nuggets established control early and maintained a comfortable margin before Flagg’s injury incident. Flagg twisted his ankle while defending Peyton Watson with just over six minutes left in the first half. He briefly returned to finish the second quarter but did not re-emerge after the break.
Southern cookin’ 🥘#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/Z5Ad79pkhV
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 15, 2026
Player Performances
Aaron Gordon contributed 22 points to Denver’s tally, while Peyton Watson added 18. For Dallas, Naji Marshall registered 24 points, and Brandon Williams finished with 20. Despite their efforts, the Mavericks struggled from distance, connecting on only 5 of 34 attempts from three-point range, representing their poorest long-range shooting display of the season.
Dallas attempted a late rally, reducing a 23-point deficit to just five in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Rookie Ryan Nembhard’s three-pointer provided hope, but Denver responded with a key 13-2 run initiated by Tim Hardaway, a former Maverick, who answered with a three-pointer. Murray capped the decisive sequence to push the lead to 101-85. In the final 1:12, Dallas closed to within six before Murray converted a jumper and Gordon sealed the result with two free throws.
Injury Updates and Team News
The home side’s injury woes extended beyond Flagg. Daniel Gafford was sidelined during the second half with a right ankle sprain, a lingering issue for the centre throughout the season. The Mavericks were already without 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who is expected to be out for approximately six weeks due to a left hand ligament injury. Additionally, Dereck Lively II missed the fixture as he is out for the season following foot surgery.
| Team | Leading Scorer | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray | 33 | 2 | 5 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Naji Marshall | 24 | 5 | 3 |
What’s Next?
Denver will open a three-game homestand when Washington visit on Saturday. Dallas are set to host Utah on Thursday in the first of back-to-back home matches.
