Jamal Murray Leads Short-Handed Nuggets Past Dallas 118-109
Nuggets vs Mavericks score January 2026
The Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of superstar Nikola Jokic to secure a gritty 118-109 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, January 14, 2026. Playing at the American Airlines Center, the Nuggets leaned heavily on guard Jamal Murray, who delivered a masterful 33-point performance to steer Denver through a high-stakes Western Conference clash. Murray, who also contributed five assists, stepped into the primary playmaking role as Jokic remained sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee. Despite a late-game surge by a resilient Mavericks squad, Denver’s depth and veteran poise allowed them to maintain control, improving their record to 28-13 and maintaining their position near the top of the conference standings.
The game was heavily defined by a mounting injury list on both sides, with Dallas entering the contest without their own primary stars, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks’ situation grew more dire in the second quarter when rookie sensation and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg suffered a sprained left ankle. Flagg, who had scored six points before the injury, landed awkwardly while defending a drive by Peyton Watson. Although he briefly returned to the court before halftime, he was officially ruled out for the second half, ending his impressive streak of 39 consecutive games scoring in double figures. The loss of Flagg deprived Dallas of their most versatile young talent at a time when they were already struggling with frontcourt depth due to the absences of P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II.
Despite trailing by as many as 23 points in the third quarter, the Mavericks launched a furious comeback attempt led by Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams. Marshall finished with a team-high 24 points, while Williams provided a significant spark off the bench with 20 points, cutting the Denver lead to just six points midway through the fourth quarter. However, Aaron Gordon provided the necessary interior presence for the Nuggets in Jokic’s stead, finishing with 22 points and six rebounds, while Peyton Watson added 18 points of his own. Denver’s disciplined execution in the final minutes allowed them to weather the Dallas run, eventually pulling away to secure the nine-point win and avoid a potential upset.
As both teams look ahead to the second half of the 2025/26 season, the focus shifts to the recovery of their respective superstars. Denver will be monitoring Jokic’s knee closely as they prepare for their next home stretch, while the Mavericks await further evaluation of Cooper Flagg’s ankle. For Dallas, the loss marks a difficult setback as they sit at 15-26, ten games below .500 and struggling to stay in the playoff conversation amidst a historic run of injuries. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have proven they possess the roster depth to win challenging road games even when their MVP is off the floor, reinforcing their status as a top-tier contender in the West.
