Jamal Murray exploded with a season-high 45 points, including 32 in the first half, leading the Denver Nuggets to a convincing 118-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. This performance marked a notable improvement from his previous best of 34 points scored against Detroit on December 28. Murray's shooting was impressive, finishing 18 of 26 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, while also contributing six assists and two steals.
In support of Murray, Michael Porter Jr. added 13 points, and Nikola Jokic recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Mavericks welcomed back Kyrie Irving, who had been sidelined for five games due to injury, but he struggled, scoring only 11 points on 4-for-18 shooting. Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Nuggets have been on a winning streak, having won four straight games, and eight of their last ten, with each of their eight victories coming by a margin of ten or more points. In contrast, the Mavericks faced their second-worst loss of the season, trailing by 19 points after previously suffering a 23-point defeat to the Clippers. A key moment in the game was the early exit of Dereck Lively II due to an ankle sprain, which significantly impacted Dallas's performance.
