Mavericks recover after losing 24-point lead, overcome Jokic's triple-double to beat Nuggets 123-120

DENVER (AP) — Naji Marshall scored a career-high 26 points, P.J. Washington had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks recovered after blowing a 24-point lead to beat the Denver Nuggets 123-120 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game.

Playing without Luka Doncic, Dallas built a 20-point halftime lead by was down by five before Washington scored nine points in the final 2:41 to improve to 2-1 in the West Group C. Denver was eliminated from the knockout round.

Doncic will be out at least four games with a right wrist sprain.

Nikola Jokic returned from a three-game absence to notch his sixth triple-double of the season. Jokic, who didn’t go on the three-game road trip while he and his wife waited for the birth of their second child, finished with 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

Russell Westbrook scored 16 points.

Dallas led 77-53 early in the third quarter but the Nuggets rallied to take a 113-108 lead late in the fourth. The Mavericks went on an 11-2 run to lead 119-115 with 50 seconds left.

Mavericks: Showed their depth without their best player. Seven players scored in double figures.

Nuggets: Christian Braun had 17 points and is the only player to score in double figures in every game this season. Jokic has scored at least 10 points in every game he has played.

With the game tied at 113 with 1:52 remaining, Dereck Lively II blocked layups by Jokic and Westbrook in a span of 30 seconds.

Westbrook entered Friday night shooting 30.4% from 3-point range in his career and made 4 of 6, including all three in the fourth quarter.

The Mavericks visit the Miami Heat on Sunday night while the Nuggets head to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) is fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Dario Saric (9) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) tangles with Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber, right, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks guard Quentin Grimes dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy reacts after a foul call during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) goes up to shoot against Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, bobbles the ball against Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) pressures Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) dunks against Denver Nuggets forward Dario Saric (9) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)