Mavericks Outduel Nuggets Behind Flagg’s Breakout, Jokic’s Triple-Double, and Nembhard’s Historic Night
Monday night in Denver had a little bit of everything - a rising star stepping into the spotlight, a reigning MVP doing MVP things, and a rookie guard etching his name into the record books. When the dust settled, the Dallas Mavericks walked out with a 131-121 win over the Nuggets, a game that was as much about the future as it was about the present.
Let’s start with Cooper Flagg, who continues to look every bit the franchise cornerstone Dallas hoped he’d be. The rookie forward dropped 24 points and pulled down eight rebounds, but it wasn’t just the box score that stood out - it was the poise, the feel, the way he read the game. Flagg didn’t just play in this one; he impacted it.
And he knew exactly what he was up against.
After the game, Flagg had high praise for Nikola Jokic, who put on another masterclass in offensive orchestration. Jokic finished with a monster triple-double: 29 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists - the kind of stat line that’s become almost routine for him, yet still manages to amaze. Flagg, clearly a student of the game, recognized the challenge.
“It’s a tough combination to throw different looks at him all night and he’s still figuring out the right answers every single time,” Flagg said. That’s a rookie speaking about one of the game’s most cerebral players - and doing so with the kind of respect that shows he’s not just watching greatness, he’s learning from it.
Ryan Nembhard, another young Maverick making waves, added his own take on Jokic’s brilliance: “Any little mistake you make, he’s going to dissect it. And hit the right player…he’s a h*ll of a player.”
Nembhard wasn’t just talking the talk - he was walking it too, making history in the process. While the details of that milestone weren’t front and center, it was clear he played a pivotal role in the win.
Asked Cooper Flagg & Ryan Nembhard about their 1st time playing against Nikola Jokic:
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) December 2, 2025
Flagg: “It’s a tough combination to throw different looks at him all night & he’s still figuring outta right answers every single time.”
Nembhard: “Any little mistake you make, he’s going to… pic.twitter.com/KHNBdL5hKf
With the victory, Dallas moves to 7-15 - still trying to find its footing in a post-Luka, post-Kyrie, post-Nico Harrison era. That’s a lot of change for any franchise to absorb.
But Flagg is giving fans a reason to believe. Through the early part of his rookie campaign, he’s averaging 17.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Those are solid numbers, but what’s more important is how he’s carrying himself - like a player who understands the weight of the jersey he’s wearing.
Jokic, meanwhile, continues to do Jokic things. His season averages - 29.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 11.1 assists - are absurd, even by his own lofty standards. He’s the engine of everything Denver does, and even in a loss, he reminded everyone why he’s one of the most unguardable players in the league.
The Mavericks will head back home to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday, hoping to build on this momentum. For a team still navigating its identity, wins like this matter.
They show growth. They show fight.
And they show that the young core - led by Flagg and Nembhard - is starting to figure things out.
Flagg’s basketball IQ has been well-documented, and it’s not hard to see where it comes from. Growing up in Newport, Maine, he studied the greats - Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, LeBron James.
He’s also taken cues from Bill Walton and even more recent players like Kevin Love. That kind of film room education doesn’t just sharpen a player’s game - it shapes how they see the floor.
So it’s no surprise that Flagg recognizes greatness when he sees it. And on Monday night, he saw it in Jokic.
But here’s the thing - Jokic might’ve been the best player on the floor, but Flagg wasn’t far behind. And that’s a sign of where this Mavericks team could be headed.