The Denver Nuggets delivered a masterclass on offense Wednesday night, cruising past the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 with a dominant display from their star duo.
Jamal Murray exploded for a season-high 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting, while Nikola Jokic posted a near-historic triple-double: 23 points, 21 rebounds, and a season-high 19 assists. It was yet another reminder of why this pair remains one of the most lethal in the NBA.
After the game, Jokic—known for downplaying almost everything—opened up about the special chemistry he shares with Murray when both are locked in.
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“For me, especially when Jamal is having that kind of game, just trying to get him open,” Jokic explained. “I know he’s going to take and make shots. They started blitzing him and it was my turn to get everybody involved.”
That real-time adaptability is what makes the Jokic-Murray connection so dangerous. When defenses swarm Murray, Jokic turns into the league’s most lethal playmaker, dissecting opponents with precision passes. When they focus on Jokic, Murray can take over and drop 53 on his own.
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The night featured plenty of highlight-reel moments, including Jokic’s signature behind-the-back passes that set up easy slams in split actions. It was the kind of fluid, unselfish basketball that leaves opposing coaches scrambling for answers.
Jokic Keeps Perspective with a Humbling Response
When asked if he consciously tries to play a “beautiful” style of basketball, Jokic gave a characteristically grounded and humbling reply.
“I don’t know if it’s beautiful,” he said. “When we pass around and get open looks, it’s beautiful, but is it really important? I would rather just win games than play beautiful.”
In typical Jokic fashion, he brushed aside any talk of aesthetics or highlights. For the Serbian superstar, style points mean nothing—winning is everything.
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This mindset perfectly captures who Jokic is as a competitor. He doesn’t chase viral moments or individual glory. He simply wants to win, and everything else is secondary.
Strong Momentum for the Nuggets
The victory extended Denver’s winning streak to four games and improved their record to 46-28, keeping them firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture. Meanwhile, the struggling Mavericks fell to 23-50 with their fifth straight loss.
The timing couldn’t be better for the Nuggets, who are heating up as the playoffs approach in a stacked Western Conference. Murray is enjoying a career-best season, averaging 25.0 points and 7.1 assists per game, while Jokic continues to dominate the stat sheet with season averages of 27.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists—leading the league in both rebounds and assists.
Nights like this, where both stars feed off each other and elevate the entire team, show just how dangerous Denver can be when clicking on all cylinders. If Jokic and Murray keep delivering performances like Wednesday’s, the rest of the West will have serious problems come playoff time.
Jokic may downplay most things, but even he had to acknowledge how special this one felt.