DENVER — Jamal Murray tallied a season-best 53 points, Nikola Jokic contributed 23 points, secured 21 rebounds, and distributed a season-topping 19 assists, as the Denver Nuggets fended off the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 during Wednesday evening’s matchup.
Jokic achieved his 6,000th professional assist as Denver secured its fourth consecutive victory. The Nuggets (46-28) now share the fourth position with Minnesota, who triumphed over Houston in extra time on Wednesday evening. Denver possesses the tie-breaking advantage, having emerged victorious in the season series versus the Timberwolves.
Jokic commenced the evening possessing 5,992 assists and reached this significant mark by delivering an assist to Murray for a layup at the 4:56 mark of the second quarter. This contributed to Murray’s 33-point performance in the initial half, wherein he converted 11 of 16 attempts from the floor and notched 14 consecutive points during a particular period.
Dallas narrowed an 11-point advantage to 127-126 as 4:20 remained in the final quarter and possessed an opportunity to equalize the score, but Brandon Williams failed to convert two foul shots with 3:58 left, and Denver assumed control.
Jokic sank an 8-foot floating shot and passed to Peyton Watson for a three-point shot from the corner, while Murray converted a three-point attempt and a 19-foot fadeaway jumper, extending the lead to 138-128.
Murray, who holds a career best of 55 points, finished the match converting 19 of 28 attempts and sank 9 out of 14 three-point attempts.
First-year player Cooper Flagg contributed 26 points, and Naji Marshall added 22 points for the Mavericks, who are experiencing a five-game losing streak and have fallen in 24 out of 28 contests since the close of January.
Dallas had reduced a 13-point disadvantage to 93-92 towards the end of the third period; however, Jokic tallied six points and provided three assists in the concluding 2:51 minutes to establish an 111-100 advantage for Denver going into the fourth quarter.
The Associated Press aided in this dispatch.