By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
On the bottom half of a back-to-back, the Denver Nuggets fell, 131-130, to the Dallas Mavericks in American Airlines Center.
Tucking in 12/22 from the field, including five three-pointers, Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic tallied a 29-point, 14-assist double-double on Tuesday. Lasting 36:25, he added seven rebounds and three steals. Jamal Murray recorded a team-high 31 points.
After digging their way out of a 21-point hole in the second half, the Nuggets could have secured a 12th straight road win in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season if Peyton Watson’s three-pointer at the buzzer had not narrowly missed.
“I really thought that ball was going in when it left his hand,” noted head coach David Adelman in a postgame press conference, confirming the 23-year-old winger as the right selection for the game-winning attempt.
“I think it’s the right play to do and I will do it again,” 30-year-old Jokic later added on finding his teammate for a corner three.
Dealing with an illness over recent days, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas logged 14:08 off the bench, packing eight points, one assist, and one rebound.
In addition to a disappointing loss, reducing the season effort to 21-8 and third place in the Western Conference standings, the visitors also lost Cam Johnson due to a knee injury midway through the fourth quarter. “Hopefully, it’s better than it looked,” wished 44-year-old Adelman.
Pushing the Mavs to 12-9 after two straight losses, Cooper Flagg went for 33 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds, and Anthony Davis added 31 points.
Both sides are part of the NBA Christmas Day 2025 schedule, with the Nuggets welcoming the Minnesota Timberwolves in Ball Arena and the Mavericks visiting the Golden State Warriors in Chase Center on Thursday.