DENVER — The Dallas Mavericks overcame a 17-point first-quarter deficit and rode a breakout night from Ryan Nembhard to a 131–121 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Ball Arena.

Dallas (7–15) secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season by outscoring Denver 74–52 in the middle quarters and holding the Nuggets to 17 points in the fourth. Anthony Davis totaled 32 points and 13 rebounds, but the night belonged to Nembhard, who finished with 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting, 10 assists and no turnovers.

The undrafted rookie’s 15-point third quarter kept Dallas within striking distance until the Mavericks’ late surge. His control of the offense stood out immediately to head coach Jason Kidd.

In a separate paragraph, Kidd detailed what made the performance special.

“He kind of took over the game,” Kidd said. “I thought he was great the whole game… to have 28 and 10, he controlled the game. The ball touches the paint, he finds Christie in the corner for a big three. He was really good tonight.”

Denver opened the game with a 21–4 run and shot 65 percent in the first quarter. Nikola Jokić had 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the opening 12 minutes and finished with 29 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists. Spencer Jones added a career-high 28 points, scoring 19 in the first half.

But Dallas flipped the game with a 37–18 second-quarter burst fueled by Davis, Cooper Flagg and Nembhard. The Mavericks pushed the pace, forced misses, and entered halftime with a 69–68 lead.

Kidd said the team never panicked despite the early hole.

The coach pointed to his group’s composure.

“We had to get used to the altitude,” Kidd said. “This group has gotten down early in games and found a way to keep fighting, trust one another and keep working the game. That’s what we did tonight.”

Davis anchored the second-quarter push and stabilized Dallas in the fourth after Denver cut the deficit. He also returned from a jammed finger that briefly sent him to the bench.

Kidd highlighted Davis’ impact on both ends.

“I thought AD’s defense and offense was really good,” Kidd said. “We need him defensively, and I thought he came up with a big stop there late. Offensively he was good too, just taking what the defense gave him.”

Davis said the team’s response to the early deficit reflected its growing resilience.

He described the approach as straightforward.

“That game's not won in the first quarter,” Davis said. “We just kept fighting… even when we’re down, we’re still such a resilient team.”

Davis also praised Nembhard for his control of the offense and his readiness in big moments.

The veteran big man made his view clear.

“Ryan, man, he carried us — making big shots, big plays, making the right reads,” Davis said. “He definitely got the game ball tonight.”

Flagg added 24 points, eight rebounds and two steals, scoring two key baskets during the Mavericks’ 20–9 closing run. His recent scoring surge — 35 against the Clippers followed by 24 in Denver — continued as he attacked the paint and defended multiple positions.

Flagg said the win showed how the lineup is settling in.

“We’re coming together,” Flagg said. “Having AD back is a huge help… guys meshing together, finding some of our roles, competing every single night.”

Nembhard’s ability to attack Jokić in drop coverage was central to Dallas’ turnaround. He said he found a rhythm as the game progressed.

His explanation was simple.

“Just trying to be aggressive during that deep drop with Jokic,” Nembhard said. “Just trying to be aggressive, get downhill, make plays.”

Denver’s offense stalled late, scoring only six points in the final three minutes. Jones missed two threes in that stretch, and Jokić’s passes led to contested shots rather than open looks.

Flagg pointed to execution as the reason Dallas closed the game cleanly.

“Just coming together,” Flagg said. “Sticking to the game plan… just sticking together.”

The win capped a 2–2 road trip for Dallas, which returns home Wednesday to face the Miami Heat. Denver dropped to 14–6 and lost its fourth straight home game, drawing boos as the final seconds ticked off.

For the Mavericks, the night reinforced their growing identity — a team battered by injury but anchored by steady improvement, rising young talent and a rookie point guard who delivered the biggest game of his career when they needed it most.