Jamal Murray pours in 45 as Nuggets mash Mavs

Jamal Murray scored a season-high 45 points on 18-of-26 shooting and the Denver Nuggets recorded a 118-99 victory at Dallas on Tuesday night to finish off a two-game sweep of the Mavericks.

Michael Porter Jr. added 13 points and six rebounds for Denver, which has won four straight games and eight of its past 10. Nikola Jokic added 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 16th triple-double of the season.

Dallas star Kyrie Irving (back) returned from a five-game absence and scored 11 points in 30 minutes. His rust showed as he shot just 4 of 18 from the field.

Daniel Gafford scored 13 points to lead the Mavericks, and Naji Marshall also put up 11 as Dallas fell for the seventh time in nine games.

The Mavericks lost big man Dereck Lively II to a sprained right ankle in the opening minutes to leave the club short-handed in the interior. Denver took advantage with a 51-30 rebounding advantage.

The Nuggets recorded a 112-101 victory over the Mavericks on Sunday, also in Dallas.

Denver shot 51.8 percent from the field on Tuesday, including 13 of 29 (44.8 percent) from 3-point range. Murray also had six assists and sank five 3-pointers.

Dallas made 42.2 percent of its shots and was 9 of 32 (28.1 percent) from behind the arc. Quentin Grimes, Maxi Kleber and Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 10 points apiece for the Mavericks.

Dallas is just 3-7 since losing star Luka Doncic to a left calf strain on Christmas Day.

Murray was hot from the start with 19 first-quarter points on 7-of-9 shooting as Denver took a 36-21 advantage.

Jokic and Murray hit 3-pointers one minute apart to push the lead to 64-39 with 2:12 left in the first half. The Nuggets led by 29 after Murray's driving hoop with 29.5 seconds left before Denver settled for a 71-45 halftime lead.

Murray had 32 points at halftime, having connected on 12 of 15 first-half shots, including 4 of 6 from behind the arc.

Russell Westbrook made two free throws to push the lead above 30 at 80-49 with 8:56 left in the third quarter. Jokic wrapped up his 146th career triple-double late in the quarter and Denver took a 91-67 lead into the final stanza.

The Mavericks opened the fourth quarter with a 12-2 surge to move within 14. However, Denver answered with 12 consecutive points, beginning with Julian Strawther's 3-pointer.

Murray and Aaron Gordon added baskets to give the Nuggets a 100-79 lead with 7:19 remaining. Murray then buried a 3-pointer and Peyton Watson delivered a ferocious dunk to make it 105-79 with 6:15 to play, and Denver cruised to the finish.

--Field Level Media