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Mavs claim most impressive win of season over Nuggets behind Ryan Nembhard’s breakout game
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.
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.
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.
X/Twitter: @MikeACurtis2
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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FOX 4’s Clarice Tinsley celebrates the following members of the Class of 2026: Zavion Berry, Demi Glenn, Peyton Jankowski, Brynnah Stone, Bailee Swilling and Caroline Woahloe.
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The Dallas Cowboys’ goal of having a bounce-back season in 2026 after missing out on the NFL playoffs for two consecutive years begins on Monday, June 1, with the start of organized team activities (OTAs).
OTAs are voluntary, so the whole squad will not be on the field when the team returns to The Star on Monday afternoon, but it’s our first look at the veteran players coming together with the impressive 2026 rookie class to begin preparations for the new year.
Dallas completely revamped its defense in the offseason after firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and hiring Christian Parker away from the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, so there will be plenty of attention on the defensive rebuild.
One of the players who will have all eyes on them when OTAs kick off is first-round pick Caleb Downs, who made a positive impression during rookie minicamp. Downs impressed the Cowboys front office, coaching staff, and star players with his poise during his first camp as a rookie, and the hope is that he can develop into the defensive leader that Parker needs on the roster.
There will also be plenty of positional battles to watch, from determining who will start at EDGE, linebacker, and even a heated competition in the team’s loaded tight end room, so there is plenty for fans to look forward to as the team ramps up its offseason program.
When will the players be strapping up their helmets for OTAs and minicamp over the next few weeks?
A full look at the schedule for the Cowboys’ offseason program and preseason can be seen below.
2026 Cowboys Offseason Program: OTAs & Mandatory Minicamp Dates
OTAs
Session 1: Monday, June 1
Session 2: Tuesday, June 2
Session 3: Thursday, June 4
Session 4: Monday, June 8
Session 5: Tuesday, June 9
Session 6: Thursday, June 11
Mandatory Minicamp: Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, June 20
Training Camp: Dates TBD
Dallas Cowboys Preseason Schedule
Week 1 – Saturday, August 15, 8:00 p.m. ET: at Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington
Week 2 – Saturday, August 22, 9:00 p.m. ET: at Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium | Phoenix, Arizona
Week 3, Friday, August 28, 7:00 p.m. ET: New Orleans Saints | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas
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