Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets
· National Basketball AssociationAnthony Davis has 32 points as Mavericks beat Nuggets 131-121
Rookie Ryan Nembhard had 28 points and 10 assist, both career bests, to help Dallas win consecutive games for the first time this season. Cooper Flagg added 24 points for Dallas, which hit 16 of 31 shots from 3-point range.
The loss was the fourth straight at home for Denver, three of them against teams without winning records. It also spoiled a career night for Spencer Jones, who had 28 points, and Nikola Jokic's 11th triple-double of the season. He finished with 29 points, a season-high 20 rebounds and 13 assists.
The already short-handed Nuggets played the fourth quarter without Jamal Murray, who was slow going to the locker room at halftime. He went to the floor in the first minute of the third quarter, hung back at the defensive end and then walked gingerly to the locker room but returned a few minutes later.
Davis missed 14 games before returning against the Lakers on Friday night. He sat out Saturday night for maintenance but looked dominant in his seventh game of the season. He grabbed 13 rebounds to tie his season high.
The Nuggets led by 17 early in the first half but were outscored 42-27 in the second quarter, the third time in the last six home quarters they allowed 41 or more.
The Mavericks trailed by four with 9:31 left but used an 18-5 run to lead 129-117 with 1:29 left. Denver missed 10 straight shots, six from 3-point range, until Peyton Watson scored two straight baskets.
Nuggets: Begin a four-game road trip at Indiana on Wednesday night.
Regular Season Series
DAL leads series 1-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 131 - 121 |
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 4th Quarter | 131 - 121 |
| 4th 23.1 | ![]() |
Nikola Jokic bad pass (Cooper Flagg steals) | 131 - 121 |
| 4th 27.5 | ![]() |
Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | 131 - 121 |
| 4th 31.4 | ![]() |
Anthony Davis misses 30-foot three point step back jumpshot | 131 - 121 |
Statistics
DAL |
DEN |
|
|---|---|---|
| 53-95 | FG | 47-99 |
| 56 | Field Goal % | 47 |
| 16-31 | 3PT | 12-37 |
| 52 | Three Point % | 32 |
| 9-14 | FT | 15-18 |
| 64 | Free Throw % | 83 |
| 43 | Rebounds | 47 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 12 |
| 36 | Defensive Rebounds | 35 |
| 35 | Assists | 37 |
| 4 | Steals | 5 |
| 4 | Blocks | 5 |
| 8 | Turnovers | 7 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 8 | Total Turnovers | 8 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 13 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 13 |
| 18 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 54 | Points in Paint | 60 |
| 19 | Fouls | 11 |
| 12 | Largest Lead | 17 |
Denver Nuggets Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Jonas Valanciunas, C | Day-To-Day | Dec 25 |
| Cameron Johnson, F | Out | Dec 25 |
| Tamar Bates, G | Out | Dec 22 |
| Christian Braun, G | Out | Dec 13 |
| Aaron Gordon, F | Out | Dec 9 |
Dallas Mavericks Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Dereck Lively II, C | Out | Dec 21 |
| Kyrie Irving, G | Out | Dec 13 |
| Dante Exum, G | Out | Nov 20 |
Game Information
Location: Denver, CO
Attendance: 19,587 · Capacity:
2025-26 Southwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Antonio |
23 | 7 | .767 | - | W8 |
Houston |
17 | 10 | .630 | 4.5 | L2 |
Memphis |
14 | 16 | .467 | 9 | W1 |
Dallas |
12 | 19 | .387 | 11.5 | W1 |
New Orleans |
8 | 23 | .258 | 15.5 | L1 |
2025-26 Northwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City |
26 | 5 | .839 | - | L2 |
Denver |
21 | 8 | .724 | 4 | L1 |
Minnesota |
20 | 10 | .667 | 5.5 | W3 |
Portland |
12 | 18 | .400 | 13.5 | L2 |
Utah |
10 | 19 | .345 | 15 | L4 |
NBA News
2025 Christmas NFL, NBA game schedule, picks, odds, previews
We're previewing all eight Christmas Day games across two sports with picks, predictions, storylines and more.
Bench, Jalen Brunson key Knicks comeback win over Cavaliers
Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, reserve Jordan Clarkson had 25 and the Knicks came from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers 126-124 and win on Christmas Day for the third straight year.
NBA Christmas Day: Curry, Towns top fashionable arrivals
Stars around the NBA made sure to dress their best during the five-game Christmas Day slate.
Brunson and the reserves lead a Christmas comeback as the Knicks beat the Cavaliers 126-124
— Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, reserve Jordan Clarkson had 25 and the New York Knicks came from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 on Thursday and win on Christmas Day for the third straight year.
Knicks come from behind to beat Cavaliers
The Knicks erase a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to take down the Cavaliers to open up the Christmas Day slate.





DAL
DEN
San Antonio
Houston
Memphis
New Orleans
Oklahoma City
Minnesota
Portland
Utah