Cooper Flagg Shines Bright as Mavericks Edge Nuggets in Instant Classic
Tuesday night in Dallas gave us one of those rare NBA matchups where the stars didn’t just show up-they showed out. It was a four-man showcase between two of the league’s most dynamic duos: Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis for the Mavericks, and Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić for the Nuggets.
The result? A 131-130 thriller that ended with Dallas on top, thanks in large part to their rookie phenom.
Flagg’s Coming-of-Age Game
Cooper Flagg didn’t just play well-he played like a future face of the league. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft delivered a near triple-double: 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.
While it wasn’t his highest-scoring night (that belongs to his 42-point outing against Utah), this performance felt different. It was more complete, more controlled, and arguably more impressive.
Flagg was surgical with his shot selection, going 14-of-21 from the field and knocking down a career-high four three-pointers. What stood out even more?
He did it without living at the free-throw line-just one trip to the stripe all game. That’s only the second time this season he’s had such a low free-throw count, which tells you he wasn’t relying on whistles-he was just flat-out scoring.
This wasn’t just a big night for a rookie. It was a statement game. Flagg showed he can not only keep up with the league’s elite-he can outplay them.
Anthony Davis Is Back-and Making Noise
While Flagg’s performance grabbed headlines, Anthony Davis quietly put together a vintage night of his own: 31 points, nine boards, four assists, and four steals. After missing most of November with an injury, Davis has been on a tear in December, averaging over 22 points and 13 rebounds per game. Tuesday was another reminder that when healthy, Davis is still one of the most impactful two-way players in the league.
He was everywhere-on the glass, in the passing lanes, and finishing plays with authority. His chemistry with Flagg is starting to click, and that’s a scary development for the rest of the Western Conference.
Denver’s Duo Does Damage
Give credit where it’s due-Denver brought everything they had. Jamal Murray was in full command, dropping 31 points, seven rebounds, and 14 assists. That’s a stat line that screams All-Star, and he did it with the kind of poise and pace that makes Denver’s offense hum.
Nikola Jokić, as always, was right there with him. The reigning MVP candidate tallied 29 points, seven boards, and 14 dimes of his own. The fact that both Murray and Jokić posted nearly identical lines speaks to their synergy-this is a duo that knows exactly how to play off each other, and they did everything short of stealing the win.
Don’t Sleep on the Mavericks
At 12-19, Dallas isn’t exactly setting the standings on fire. But don’t let the record fool you-this team is starting to figure things out. With two wins over Denver already in the books, plus solid victories against Detroit and Houston, the Mavericks are proving they can hang with quality opponents.
The key word here is potential. If Flagg continues to grow at this pace and Davis stays healthy, Dallas has the kind of 1-2 punch that could make waves in the second half of the season. They’re still outside the playoff picture for now, but with 50 games left, there’s time to turn this into a season no one saw coming.
And if they do sneak into the postseason? Good luck to whoever draws them in a seven-game series.
This team is young, hungry, and starting to believe. That’s a dangerous combination.
Final Takeaway
Tuesday night wasn’t just a win-it was a glimpse into what the Mavericks could become. Flagg is already looking like a franchise cornerstone, Davis is playing like a man on a mission, and the rest of the league is officially on notice. The West is deep, but don’t count out Dallas just yet.