Honestly, if you were looking for a quiet Thursday night in sports, Denver wasn't the place to find it. People keep asking who won the Denver game last night, but the answer depends entirely on which court you were watching. If you’re a fan of the Nuggets, you're probably still buzzing from that 118-109 victory over the Dallas Mavericks that wrapped up late Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday. But if you were tracking the college scene, specifically the University of Denver Pioneers, the news wasn’t nearly as pretty.
The Nuggets are basically a machine right now. Jamal Murray went absolutely nuclear with 33 points. Watching him slice through the Dallas defense made it feel like 2023 all over again.
Nuggets fend off Dallas despite a late scare
The Nuggets game was weird. It shouldn't have been close, but this is the NBA in 2026—nothing is ever easy. Denver had this massive 23-point lead. You’d think they could just coast, right? Wrong. The Mavericks, even without Cooper Flagg for the second half (he went down with a nasty-looking ankle sprain), somehow clawed back.
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They trimmed that lead down to just five points in the fourth quarter. It felt like one of those classic Denver collapses where the altitude starts working against the home team’s lungs. But then Tim Hardaway Jr.—of all people—hit a massive three against his former team. That basically sparked a 13-2 run that put the game on ice.
- Jamal Murray: 33 points (The guy was untouchable).
- Aaron Gordon: 22 points (Physical, aggressive, exactly what they needed).
- Peyton Watson: 18 points (The energy he brings off the bench is kinda terrifying for other teams).
The Mavericks shot a season-worst 14.7% from deep. You aren't winning many games in today's league hitting 5-of-34 from the arc. It was ugly. Denver took advantage, and they moved forward looking like a serious contender to humble the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference.
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A tough night for the DU Pioneers
While the Nuggets were celebrating, the University of Denver women’s basketball team was having a rough go of it in Brookings. They ran into the South Dakota State buzzsaw. It was a 90-44 blowout.
The Pioneers actually led 8-6 early on. For about two minutes, it looked like they might pull off something special. Then the Jackrabbits went on a 16-0 run and Denver never recovered. They were held to 34.8% shooting and turned the ball over 20 times. It was the kind of game you just want to delete from the DVR and never speak of again.
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What this means for Denver sports fans
If you're tracking the Nuggets, the big takeaway is their depth. We’ve spent years wondering if anyone besides Nikola Jokic could carry the load. Last night proved that when the "Blue Arrow" is hitting, they are almost impossible to beat. Jamal Murray's health has always been the "X-factor," and seeing him drop 33 with that much confidence is a huge sign for the post-season.
Conversely, the Dallas Mavericks are in a world of hurt. Losing Cooper Flagg to a sprained ankle—especially with Anthony Davis already out for six weeks—is a disaster for them.
Actionable insights for the next week:
- Watch the injury reports: Keep a close eye on Cooper Flagg’s ankle. If you’re a betting person or a fantasy manager, his absence reshapes the entire Western Conference hierarchy for the next month.
- Nuggets Bench: Keep an eye on Peyton Watson. His defensive versatility is becoming the "secret sauce" for Denver's second unit.
- DU Pioneers: They need to find a way to handle pressure. Their next few Summit League games will be defined by whether they can cut down those 20+ turnover games.
The Nuggets look like the best team in the West right now. Even Jeff Teague has been vocal lately about how a healthy Denver squad is basically built to dismantle the Thunder. Last night was just another brick in that wall.