DENVER — This year’s iteration of the Dallas Mavericks has built a reputation for being competitive, no matter the circumstances.
It doesn’t matter if they’re short-handed because of injuries or playing through their shooting struggles, the Mavericks typically find ways to keep games close.
That trend continued on Monday night against the Denver Nuggets as they found themselves in their 17th clutch game of the season.
Dallas used a 42-point second-quarter lead to erase a 17-point deficit, which set the stage for their most impressive win of the season — a 131-121 victory over the Nuggets.
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The Mavericks (7-15) captured their second consecutive win for the first time this season, but that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the trio of Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard, who posted career-highs of 28 points and 10 assists.
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The two-way rookie proved himself worthy of Jason Kidd’s trust in him as the team’s starting point guard and provided a much-needed lift for a struggling offense. Nembhard made 12 of his 14 shot attempts, and made four 3-pointers.
“I thought he was great the whole game,” Kidd said. “He’s been great since we put him in the starting lineup. Being able to find guys, also his shot as we talked about. To have 28 and 10, he controlled the game. Big play down the stretch. The ball touches the paint and he finds [Max] Christie in the corner for a big 3. He took what the defense gave him. He was really good tonight.”
Nembhard scored 15 points in the third quarter to keep the Mavericks within striking distance. He knocked down a midrange fadeaway to give Dallas a nine-point lead with 1:57 left, which was the game’s final dagger.
“Just trying to be aggressive,” Nembhard said. “They’re in that deep drop with [Nikola] Jokic. Just trying to be aggressive, get downhill and make plays.”
Nembhard wasn’t the only one making plays for the Mavericks. Dallas welcomed Davis back to the lineup after he missed Saturday’s win over the LA Clippers. He reasserted himself as the team’s number one option on offense and finished with a game-high 32 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes. It was the second-most points he’s scored in a Mavericks uniform.
The Mavericks entered the game with the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA, but they were tested by the league’s best offense. Without PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, it was a tall task to stop an offense powered by Jokic.
Denver came out the gate and dropped 42 points in the first quarter, thanks to Jokic and a second-year forward by the name of Spencer Jones, who scored a career-high for the second straight game.
Jokic stuffed the stat sheet early and finished with a triple-double of 29 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists. Jones had 28 points, 19 of which were scored in the first half. That mark surpassed his previous career-best of 16 points from the Nuggets’ win at Phoenix on Saturday. Jones was also undrafted and signed to a two-way contract, just as Nembhard was by the Mavericks.
Nembhard also accomplished history on Saturday as he became the first undrafted rookie with 25 points and 10 assists and zero turnovers and the first overall rookie to accomplish the feat since Stephon Marbury in 1996.
“It’s just a blessing,” Nembhard said. “It’s a blessing to be with this group of guys. Great group here. I just put in my work every day and stay consistent with that. When you do that, good things will happen. It was a fun night.”
The Mavericks finish their four-game road trip with a record of 2-2, which left Nuggets fans booing their own team after witnessing four consecutive home losses.
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