The Denver Nuggets moved to 46-28 and the Dallas Mavericks fell to 23-50 as the Nugs closed a 142-135 result at Ball Arena.
First quarter
The Denver Nuggets opened with 34 points in the first quarter while the Mavs scored 33 in the same stretch.
Denver logged 4 lead changes and 4 times tied in the game data, and the early pace matched that back-and-forth.
The Nuggets created early offense with 36 assists in the team box score, a key marker for a game recap built on ball movement.
Dallas kept contact with 12 made three-point shots on 34 percent three-point shooting, per the box score.
Second quarter
The Nuggets added 34 points in the second quarter, and that steady scoring kept Denver in front going into halftime.
Denver’s efficient shooting showed up in 56 percent from the field and a 67 percent effective field goal rate.
The Denver Nuggets post-match stats also showed 27 fast break points on 14 fast break attempts, which shaped the tempo of this regular season recap.
Big D countered with 31 assists and 52 bench points, which helped Dallas stay within reach across the middle quarters.
Third quarter
The Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks turning point came in the third quarter when Denver scored 43 and Dallas scored 41 in a direct exchange of runs.
Denver hit 19 three-point shots at 50 percent three-point shooting, and that perimeter scoring held up against Dallas paint scoring.
The Mavs produced 56 points in the paint and finished 58 percent on two-point attempts, which kept pressure on Denver’s interior defense.
Nikola Jokić’s previous-game line of 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists fit the team story of creating quality shots through the middle.
Fourth quarter
The Nuggets scored 31 in the fourth quarter while Dallas scored 35, and Denver’s earlier cushion stood up through the finish.
Denver’s biggest lead reached 13, and the game sheet credited the Nuggets with leading for 38:22 as the clock data reflected extended control.
Dallas generated 19 points off turnovers while Denver had 9 total turnovers, and that stretch explains what went wrong for Denver Nuggets in late-game margin management despite the win.
Jamal Murray’s previous-game scoring burst of 53 points aligned with a night where Denver’s offensive rating landed at 134.266263237519.
Scoreline context
The Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks scoreline review starts with Denver’s 142 total points against Dallas’s 135 in a matchup with 18 lead changes.
Denver finished with 55 total rebounds and Dallas finished with 48 total rebounds, which supported Denver’s extra possessions without relying on a single shot type.
Dallas went 79 percent at the line on 34 free throw attempts, while Denver also shot 79 percent on 29 free throw attempts in a tight free-throw story.
Next game
The Nuggets are scheduled to host the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on 3-27-2026 at 9:00 PM EDT.
The broadcast listing for Utah includes KJZZ and Jazz+ and the Denver feed lists ALT for fans tracking the next game on television or internet coverage.
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