Jamal Murray scores 53 points as Denver Nuggets beat Dallas Mavericks
Jamal Murray scored 53 points and Nikola Jokic recorded a massive triple-double as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 on Wednesday.
The Colorado franchise secured their fourth consecutive victory to keep pace at the top of the Western Conference standings.
Jokic dictated the tempo throughout the contest, finishing with 23 points, 21 rebounds and a season-high 19 assists.
Jokic reaches career milestone
During the first half of this high-scoring affair, the Serbian centre also registered his 6,000th career assist.
He reached that historic landmark by feeding his Canadian team-mate for a layup midway through the second quarter.
That milestone pass was part of an explosive 33-point opening half for the dynamic Nuggets playmaker.
Mavericks fight back before late Denver surge
Dallas threatened a dramatic upset late in the game, trimming an 11-point deficit to a single point with just four minutes remaining.
However, the visiting team faltered at the free-throw line, allowing the home side to immediately regain control.
A clutch corner three-pointer from Peyton Watson and a step-back jumper by the red-hot Murray finally sealed the contest.
The impressive 53-point haul saw the Denver guard fall just two points short of his career-high tally.
Play-off race intensifies for Nuggets
This vital win means Denver remain tied for fourth place alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Crucially, the Nuggets hold the vital tiebreaker advantage after winning the regular-season series between the two teams.
In stark contrast, the struggling Mavericks have now lost five consecutive matches.
Despite a spirited 26-point performance from rookie Cooper Flagg, the Texas outfit have slumped to 24 defeats in their last 28 outings.