Basketball fans just got a heavy dose of mid-season reality. If you were looking for the score of basketball game last night, specifically the marquee matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks, the final was 118-109 in favor of Denver. But the score barely tells the whole story of what happened at the American Airlines Center.
It was a night defined by a scary moment for the league's brightest young star.
The Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks Score and the Flagg Injury
Honestly, everyone in the arena stopped breathing for a second during the second quarter. Cooper Flagg, the rookie sensation who has basically been carrying the "future of the league" mantle on his shoulders, went down. He was defending Peyton Watson—who, by the way, had a massive night—when he stumbled and twisted his left ankle.
He didn't come back.
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Losing the No. 1 overall pick for the second half shifted the entire energy of the game. Dallas tried to hang around, but Denver is just too polished for a shorthanded Mavs squad. Jamal Murray was absolutely surgical. He dropped 33 points, and it felt like every time Dallas threatened to make it a one-possession game, Murray would hit a step-back or find a cutter to keep the lead comfortable.
Denver eventually pulled away to secure that 118-109 victory, but Dallas fans are mostly just refreshing their feeds for X-ray results right now.
Other Major NBA Scores from Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026
While the drama in Dallas took center stage, the rest of the league was busy putting up some wild numbers. The Chicago Bulls managed to survive a literal scoring barrage from Brice Sensabaugh.
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- Chicago Bulls 128, Utah Jazz 126: Sensabaugh went nuclear for 43 points. It was one of those games where he couldn't miss, but the Bulls' depth eventually won out in a game that came down to the final buzzer.
- Sacramento Kings 112, New York Knicks 101: DeMar DeRozan keeps making history. He scored 27 points last night, officially moving into 22nd place on the NBA's all-time career scoring list. The Kings look legit.
- Toronto Raptors 115, Indiana Pacers 101: A bit of a defensive masterclass from Toronto, holding Indiana to just 101 points in an era where everyone usually scores 120.
- New Orleans Pelicans 116, Brooklyn Nets 113: A nail-biter. New Orleans barely escaped with the win, relying on a late surge to hold off the Nets.
- LA Clippers 119, Washington Wizards 105: A comfortable win for the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.
Why These Results Matter for the Standings
The Nuggets win puts them at a solid 26-12 record, keeping them right in the hunt for the top seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Mavericks (now 20-22) are treading water. If Flagg is out for any extended period, their season outlook changes instantly.
In the East, the Bulls’ win keeps them alive in the play-in race at 19-21. It’s tight. Every single one of these games in mid-January feels like it’s going to haunt someone come April.
College Basketball’s Wild Night
Don't ignore the NCAA scores if you’re looking for the score of basketball game last night. We had some major upsets and high-scoring affairs.
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Stanford pulled off a shocker against North Carolina, winning 95-90 in a game that felt more like a track meet than a basketball game. Duke took care of business against Cal, winning 71-56, and Michigan handled Washington 82-72.
One of the more impressive individual performances came from Cobi Campbell at Troy. He dropped 30 points as Troy blew out Southern Miss 91-65. When a guy hits 6-of-9 from three-point range, there's just not much the defense can do.
What to Watch for Next
Keep a very close eye on the injury report for Cooper Flagg. An ankle sprain can be a one-week thing or a one-month thing depending on the grade. Dallas cannot afford the latter.
Also, watch the Kings. DeRozan isn't just "chasing stats"—he's the engine of an offense that looks more fluid than it did a month ago. If you’re betting on the Western Conference, Denver and Sacramento are the teams showing the most consistency right now.
Check the injury updates for the Mavericks before their next game, as the line will likely shift significantly if Flagg is ruled out. For those following the Bulls, look for Brice Sensabaugh to see an increased usage rate in Utah's upcoming matchups after his 43-point breakout.