Jamal Murray explodes for 53 as Nuggets hold off Mavericks

Jamal Murray scored 33 of his season-high 53 points in the first half, Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, and the host Denver Nuggets held on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 on Wednesday night.

Jokic, who has triple-doubles in three straight games, recorded his 6,000th career assist on Murray's layup midway through the second quarter -- becoming the first center in NBA history to reach that milestone -- on his way to a season-high assist total.

Peyton Watson...