The Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks squared off at the American Airlines Center on January 14, 2026, in a matchup that was as much about grit and adaptation as it was about star power. Both teams entered the contest battered by injuries, missing key players and leaning heavily on their remaining stars and emerging talents. The result? A game that tested depth, resilience, and coaching ingenuity, all under the bright lights of a national ESPN broadcast.
Denver came into Dallas after a grueling stretch—this was their third game in four nights and the second leg of a back-to-back after a hard-fought win in New Orleans. The Nuggets, sitting pretty near the top of the Western Conference with a 27-13 record and an impressive 16-7 mark on the road, were nonetheless feeling the pinch. Superstar center Nikola Jokic was sidelined with a hyperextended left knee, and Denver had to rely on a patchwork lineup. Jamal Murray, just back from a two-game absence due to ankle trouble and illness, was thrust into the primary scoring and playmaking role.
For the Mavericks, the story was strikingly similar. Dallas, with a 15-25 record but a competitive 11-10 at home, was without Anthony Davis (ligament damage in his left hand), Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. That left head coach Jason Kidd with an eight-man rotation, counting on the veteran presence of Klay Thompson and the youthful spark of rookie Cooper Flagg. Flagg, the 19-year-old Duke product, had already turned heads across the league, leading all rookies in scoring at 19.13 points per game, just ahead of his former college teammate Kon Knueppel. Coach Kidd was effusive in his praise: "He's never going to be afraid. He's built differently. I loved the response because the last game wasn't up to his standards. So the bounce-back game for him just shows how he can correct things quickly. Being able to have the ball and make the decisions and be double-teamed, I thought his patience was great."
Thompson, too, marveled at Flagg's poise: "You've seen it with each passing week how comfortable he is with the ball in his hands, especially at the end of the game. Mavs fans are very lucky to watch him nightly and will be for such a long time." Thompson, now 35, was also chasing history—his next trio of threes would tie Damian Lillard for fourth on the NBA's all-time list, a testament to his longevity and sharpshooting.
The game itself was expected to be a defensive slog. Without Jokic, Denver's offense had dipped by nine points per 100 possessions over the previous eight games, and the Nuggets had cashed five "unders" in that span. Dallas, for its part, had seen its last six games fall under the projected point total by an average of 11 points. The betting lines reflected this: the over/under was set around 224 points, with the Mavericks as slight favorites at -2.5.
From the opening tip, both teams leaned into their makeshift identities. Denver slowed the pace, running pick-and-rolls and relying on Murray and Aaron Gordon for creation. Dallas, hampered by the absences of its own stars, put the ball in Flagg's hands and asked him to create against a disciplined Nuggets defense.
The opening quarter saw Jamal Murray assert himself early, driving and drawing fouls. He finished the night with 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting, adding five assists and two rebounds, a testament to his ability to shoulder the offensive burden in Jokic's absence. Aaron Gordon chipped in with 21 points and six rebounds, including several timely threes that kept Denver within striking distance. Peyton Watson, fresh off being named Western Conference Player of the Week, contributed 16 points and four rebounds, continuing his strong run of form.
On the Mavericks' side, Cooper Flagg's maturity was again on display. While the rookie didn't have a career night, his decision-making and ability to handle pressure were evident. Naji Marshall led Dallas with 24 points, while Caleb Martin added 15 points and four assists. Klay Thompson, though not as prolific as in his previous outing, still managed eight points and moved ever closer to his three-point milestone.
The game's tempo remained sluggish, with both teams struggling to find easy buckets. Denver's defense, anchored by Gordon and Watson, forced Dallas into tough, contested shots, while the Mavericks' own defense funneled the ball away from Murray at every opportunity. The absence of Jokic and Davis was keenly felt, particularly in the half-court, where both squads labored to generate quality looks.
The play-by-play told the story of a game defined by runs and responses. Denver's bench, featuring Bruce Brown and Zeke Nnaji, provided just enough support to keep things close. Brown finished with seven points and five rebounds, while Nnaji added four points and five boards. For Dallas, Brandon Williams and P.J. Washington, both questionable before tip-off, gutted out solid performances—Williams tallied 14 points and five rebounds, and Washington chipped in 10 points and six boards.
Late in the game, as fatigue set in, both coaches leaned on their stars. Murray hit a series of tough jumpers to keep Denver alive, while Flagg and Marshall answered for Dallas. The Nuggets' road-tested resilience, built over a season of overcoming injuries, was evident. As coach David Adelman put it after their previous win, "It's funny (when) you go through this. It's easy to remember the Philly game (overtime win over the 76ers last week), but to look at this whole thing, we've won four out of five games with a lot of different lineups against some good teams. ... Just a really quality win going into a tough back-to-back."
When the final horn sounded, the box score reflected the grind: Denver shot 50% from the field and 42.1% from three, while Dallas struggled from deep, hitting just 15.2% of their threes. The Nuggets outrebounded the Mavericks 60-46 and dished out 21 assists to Dallas' 16, small margins that made a big difference. Turnovers were kept in check, but fouls piled up as both teams fought for every possession.
Injuries and absences may have robbed this matchup of some star wattage, but the heart and hustle on display more than made up for it. With Jokic and Davis on the mend, both teams will look to get healthier as the season grinds on. For now, the Nuggets' ability to win ugly and the Mavericks' faith in their rookie sensation remain the stories to watch as the Western Conference playoff picture takes shape.
