The 2025-26 NBA season has seen the Denver Nuggets establish themselves as a top-tier team, but they’ve run into an unexpected roadblock in the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, despite their own inconsistencies, have managed to secure multiple key victories against the Nuggets, showcasing a unique ability to disrupt Denver’s rhythm. These wins can be attributed to three main factors: exceptional individual performances from their emerging stars, effective clutch-time execution, and a defensive scheme designed to challenge Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets’ primary playmakers.
Three Reasons Why the Mavericks Are Denver’s Kryptonite
Emerging Star Power and Unlikely Heroes
The Mavericks’ success against the Nuggets has been fueled by stellar individual performances, often from their younger and newer players. In recent matchups, rookies Ryan Nembhard and Cooper Flagg, alongside the established Anthony Davis, have been particularly dominant.
For instance in a December 1st victory, Nembhard recorded 28 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers, while Flagg and Davis combined for 56 points. In another game on December 23rd, Flagg dropped 33 points and Davis added 31, carrying the team to a narrow 131-130 win. These explosive, and often unexpected, outbursts have provided the Mavericks with crucial offense that the Nuggets have struggled to contain.
The ability of players like Flagg and Nembhard to step up when a star like Kyrie Irving is injured highlights the depth and character of the Dallas squad. The sheer efficiency of these performances, with Flagg starting one game hitting his first seven shots, for example, has been a major factor in catching Denver off guard.
Clutch Time Execution and Resilience
A defining characteristic of the Mavericks’ wins over the Nuggets this season has been their composure and execution in high-pressure situations. The games between the two teams have often been close, with large leads evaporating and the outcome decided in the final minutes.
The Mavericks have shown remarkable resilience, absorbing Denver’s runs and making crucial plays down the stretch. Furthermore, in the recent 131-130 win, the Mavericks forced a 24-second violation on the Nuggets in the final seconds, preventing a potential game-winning shot and demonstrating their late-game defensive discipline. This ability to execute on both ends of the floor when the game is on the line has been a significant advantage.
Disruptive Defense and Rebounding
While it is nearly impossible to completely stop a player of Jokic’s caliber, who still produces triple-doubles against Dallas, the Mavericks have employed a strategy aimed at limiting the damage and disrupting the Nuggets’ offensive flow.
A key part of the Mavericks’ approach has been the effort to limit Jokic’s rebounding and impact on the interior, utilizing size and defensive focus from players led by Davis. In one game, Jokic, the league’s leading rebounder, was held to just seven rebounds, matching his season low. By making it tough on Denver’s primary playmaker and limiting second-chance opportunities, the Mavericks force other Nuggets players to create offense, which has proven less effective in their losses to Dallas. The Mavericks’ defense in critical moments, particularly their coverage in the corners to limit open three-pointers, has been effective in sealing games.
Through these factors, which are outstanding unexpected performances, clutch execution, and a targeted defensive approach, the Mavericks have crafted a winning formula to challenge the formidable Nuggets this season. Dallas and Denver will have two more matchups this season and it will be interesting to see if the Nuggets can make the necessary adjustments to defeat a Mavericks team that may be beginning to turn their season around. Both teams will be playing on Christmas Day, with the Mavericks taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, while the Nuggets host Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
