The Dallas Mavericks overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 131-121 on Monday night, marking their first back-to-back wins of the 2025–26 season.
Head coach Jason Kidd highlighted rookie Ryan Nembhard’s performance, saying, “He’s been great since we put him in the starting lineup… to have 28 and 10, he controlled the game and made big plays down the stretch.”
Nembhard’s composure impressed Kidd, who added, “I think his character, the way he plays… an undrafted rookie to have 10 assists, that’s special.”
Anthony Davis dominated with 32 points and 13 rebounds in his second game after returning from injury, contributing on both ends of the floor. Kidd noted, “AD’s defense and offense was really good… he came up with a big stop late, but offensively he was good too.”
Cooper Flagg added 24 points, benefiting from Nembhard’s playmaking and Kidd’s emphasis on spacing: “The pace once he caught his breath… offensively with Ryan running the point and Ryan finding him, he delivered especially down the stretch.”
Kidd also praised Klay Thompson’s contributions: “Klay… was great. The conscious effort of the group trying to get him open and get him shots, and he delivered for us.”
Despite a strong performance from Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 11th triple-double of the season with 29 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists, the Nuggets fell short in the fourth quarter. Spencer Jones added 28 points for the Mavericks, continuing his hot streak from the previous game.
Dallas trailed 17 early but outscored Denver 42-27 in the second quarter and used an 18-5 run in the final minutes to secure the win. The Mavericks shot 56 percent overall, including 52 percent from three-point range, while Denver managed 47 percent from the field.
Kidd reflected on his team’s growth and character, saying, “No matter who puts on the Mavs uniform, they come out and trust one another. They play hard… this group has stepped up despite injuries, and it shows the character of this locker room.”
The Mavericks (12-6) look to continue their momentum against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, while the Nuggets (10-8) will try to bounce back against the Indiana Pacers.
