Three consecutive wins! Flagg exits early with only 6 points due to injury, Jokic remains absent, Murray scores 33 as Nuggets defeat Mavericks

On January 15th Beijing time, during the NBA regular season, the Mavericks played at home against the visiting Nuggets. Jokic remained sidelined, with strong performances from Murray and Gordon. Flagg only managed 6 points before exiting due to an ankle injury, and despite Marshall’s solid play, he couldn’t shoulder the burden alone. Ultimately, the Nuggets triumphed 118-109 after four quarters, marking their third consecutive win.

Game statistics:

Nuggets: Murray 33 points, Gordon 22 points 6 rebounds, Jones 10 points 5 rebounds, Watson 18 points, Hardaway 12 points

Mavericks: Marshall 24 points, Flagg 6 points, Washington 12 points 6 rebounds, Williams 20 points, Martin 15 points

Game progress:

At the start of the first quarter, Gafford scored the first 2 points, Watson responded with a three-pointer. The two teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle early on, with the score tied at 5, then 7, then 13. The Nuggets found their rhythm first, scoring consecutively to try to pull away, but the Mavericks quickly answered to keep the gap close. The contest remained tight, with only a 2-point difference in the final minute of the quarter. However, the Nuggets scored 4 straight points in the last minute to pull ahead. After the first quarter, the Nuggets led 29-23 by 6 points.

In the second quarter, the Nuggets opened with a 9-2 run to quickly establish a double-digit lead. Gafford scored under the basket to stop the bleeding. The Nuggets kept up their offensive pressure with an 8-1 run, extending their lead to nearly 20 points. Brown managed a tough and-one to slow the momentum. The Nuggets scored with ease, while the Mavericks struggled greatly. The scores traded back and forth afterward, but the Nuggets maintained about a 15-point advantage. With Gordon’s layup, the half ended with the Nuggets leading 63-46 by 17 points.

Starting the third quarter, Marshall made two free throws, but Flagg was ruled out due to his ankle sprain. In the first half of the quarter, the Mavericks worked hard to close the gap, but the Nuggets always responded. Murray hit a mid-range shot, and Gordon nailed a three-pointer, pushing the Nuggets’ lead to as much as 20 points. Later, Hardaway hit a chasing three to increase the lead to 23 points. The Mavericks then woke up, going on a 12-2 run, with Watson hitting a mid-range jumper to stop the bleeding. Marshall’s floater at the buzzer made the score 88-78, with the Mavericks trailing by just 10 points at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, the Mavericks started with a 7-3 run, cutting the deficit to 6 points. At a crucial moment, Brown scored a layup to halt the run, but the Nuggets responded with a 10-0 scoring burst to pull away again. The two teams then battled closely, with the score rising back and forth, but the Nuggets kept a lead of around 10 points. In the last 3 minutes, the Mavericks went on a 9-0 run, narrowing the gap to 6 points. Murray’s mid-range shot finally stopped the Mavericks’ momentum. Washington made a critical turnover, which effectively ended the game. The Nuggets ultimately won 118-109 over the Mavericks.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Nuggets: Murray, Gordon, Jones, Watson, Pickett

Mavericks: Flagg, Washington, Gafford, Marshall, Hardy