Jamal Murray delivered a masterclass performance, scoring 45 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a commanding 118-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Murray’s explosive first half saw him notch 32 points on 12-for-15 shooting, including four three-pointers.
The Nuggets improved to 24-15 with their fourth consecutive victory, while Dallas fell to 22-18.
Murray finished 18-for-26 from the field, connected on five of nine three-point attempts, and added six assists and two steals. With just under four minutes remaining, Murray exited the game five points shy of his career-high 50 points.
Michael Porter Jr. added 13 points, and Nikola Jokic contributed a double-double with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Denver’s bench also made an impact, with Aaron Gordon and DeAndre Jordan combining for 16 points.
Dallas struggled offensively in the absence of Luka Doncic, who missed the game due to injury. Kyrie Irving returned after a five-game absence but shot just 4-for-18 from the floor, finishing with 11 points. Dereck Lively II exited early in the first quarter with a right ankle sprain and did not return.
Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks with 13 points, while Naji Marshall and Olivier-Maxence Prosper each scored 11. As a team, Dallas shot 42.2% from the field and only 28.1% from beyond the arc.
Denver’s defensive effort forced the Mavericks into 12 turnovers while holding them to just 63.6% shooting from the free-throw line. The Nuggets capitalized on Dallas’ mistakes and maintained control throughout the game, building a 24-point lead at one point.