Cooper Flagg shines as Mavericks edge Nuggets in thrilling showdown
The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets clashed in an electrifying encounter at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night, both teams facing the challenge of a back-to-back. The Mavericks, fresh off a frustrating loss to the New Orleans Pelicans where they surrendered a double-digit lead, were determined to bounce back. Meanwhile, the Nuggets, who had just dismantled the Utah Jazz, arrived with momentum but had traveled farther for this matchup.
Mavericks surge to early lead
Despite missing seven key players, including P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and Max Christie, the Mavericks started the game with an impressive flourish. They quickly established dominance, racing to a 14-2 lead within the first four minutes. Cooper Flagg, making his presence felt alongside Anthony Davis, was instrumental in this early onslaught. By the end of the first quarter, Dallas had expanded their advantage to 18 points, exemplifying a commanding performance.
Flagg showcased remarkable shooting prowess, hitting his first seven attempts, which carried over into the second quarter. The Mavericks entered the second frame with a 14-point cushion, and their lead swelled to 21 shortly thereafter. However, the Nuggets began to chip away at the deficit, with Jamal Murray igniting the offense and scoring 14 points in the quarter to narrow the gap to 10 at halftime. Flagg finished the half with an impressive 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting, including three treys.
Nuggets mount comeback
The third quarter witnessed a resurgent Nuggets team as they outscored the Mavericks 9-2 in the initial minutes, trimming the deficit to just three points. The game had transformed into a competitive battle, with Cam Johnson finally finding his rhythm, nailing a three-pointer to tie the game. The Mavericks retaliated with a putback dunk from Flagg and consecutive transition baskets, igniting a 6-0 run that reestablished their lead.
That initial burst soon escalated into a 15-0 run, highlighted by Caleb Martin’s impressive and-one finish over Nikola Jokic and Flagg’s thunderous dunk over Spencer Jones. Tim Hardaway Jr., a former Maverick, responded with four three-pointers within a two-minute span, pulling the Nuggets back into contention and even allowing them to tie the game by the end of the third quarter, during which they scored a staggering 47 points.
Final quarter drama
The fourth quarter began with Julian Strawther giving the Nuggets their first lead of the game after draining a three-pointer. What followed was a dramatic back-and-forth exchange, with five lead changes and no team able to stretch their advantage beyond three points. Both coaches experimented with double-big lineups, the Mavericks featuring Daniel Gafford alongside Anthony Davis and the Nuggets countering with Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas.
With just over three minutes remaining, Flagg sank his fourth three-pointer, momentarily allowing the Mavericks to regain a two-possession lead. The closing minutes intensified as Naji Marshall and Jamal Murray traded threes, keeping the game within a precarious margin. In a nail-biting finish, Nikola Jokic hit a trademark jumper to cut the Mavericks’ lead to just one point with under 32 seconds left.
As the clock wound down, Ryan Nembhard’s rushed mid-range shot missed the mark, presenting the Nuggets with one last opportunity. Peyton Watson, wide open for a game-winning three-pointer, saw his shot rim out, allowing the Mavericks to escape with a narrow 131-130 victory. With this win, Dallas has swept the season series against Denver.
Flagg’s standout performance
Cooper Flagg was the standout star of the night, finishing with an impressive line of 33 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. His performance was nothing short of phenomenal. Anthony Davis complemented Flagg’s efforts with a solid 31 points and 9 rebounds on 14-of-19 shooting. For the Nuggets, Jamal Murray shone brightly, recording 31 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic nearly matched him with 29 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds.
As the Mavericks celebrate this thrilling victory, the buzz around Cooper Flagg continues to grow, igniting discussions about his rising star status in the league.
