Chicago Bulls vs Dallas Mavericks — April 13, 2026
Dallas dominated Chicago with an explosive 149–128 victory on April 13, 2026, showcasing balanced scoring from multiple contributors. Ryan Nembhard led Dallas with 23 assists and 15 points on 54.5% shooting, recording a double-double while establishing elite playmaking. AJ Johnson added 20 points on 50.0% shooting (6-of-12) with a perfect 8-of-9 free throw performance. Tyler Smith contributed 20 points on 58.3% shooting (7-of-12) with 4 three-pointers on 44.4% accuracy. Chicago’s Leonard Miller responded with 17 points on 66.7% shooting (8-of-12) with strong 87.5% two-point accuracy, but limited team support prevented comeback opportunities. Dallas’s 52.0% field goal shooting and 44.9% three-point accuracy (22-of-49) showcased offensive excellence that Chicago’s 49.1% field goal and 26.3% three-point shooting (10-of-38) could not match.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 45 | 35 | 39 | 30 | 149 |
| Chicago Bulls | 34 | 22 | 32 | 40 | 128 |
Dallas Mavericks Key Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Nembhard | G | 6/11 | 1/2 | 2/2 | 15 | 9 | 23 | 2 |
| AJ Johnson | G | 6/12 | —/3 | 8/9 | 20 | — | 1 | — |
| Tyler Smith | F | 7/12 | 4/9 | 2/2 | 20 | 7 | — | 2 |
| Moussa Cisse | C | 6/15 | —/— | 5/6 | 17 | 20 | 1 | 2 |
Team Totals: 52-100 FG (52.0%), 22-49 3P (44.9%), 23-27 FT (85.2%), 61 REB (16 OFF), 35 AST, 10 STL, 5 BLK, 149 PTS
Chicago Bulls Key Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Miller | F | 8/12 | 1/4 | —/— | 17 | 5 | 2 | — |
| Collin Sexton | G | 8/16 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Lachlan Olbrich | C | 4/7 | —/— | 2/2 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 2 |
| Yuki Kawamura | G | 5/12 | 3/9 | 1/1 | 14 | 2 | 1 | — |
Team Totals: 52-106 FG (49.1%), 10-38 3P (26.3%), 14-19 FT (73.7%), 52 REB (13 OFF), 30 AST, 12 STL, 3 BLK, 128 PTS
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 6 — May 1, 2026
Minnesota’s dominant defensive effort and balanced offensive approach eliminated Denver from the Western Conference First Round with a 110–98 victory in Game 6 on May 1, 2026. Jaden McDaniels led Minnesota with 32 points on 52.0% shooting (13-of-25) with a double-double including 10 rebounds. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 24 points on 45.0% shooting (9-of-20) while shooting 5-of-5 from the free throw line, showcasing clutch late-game execution. Rudy Gobert contributed a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds on 66.7% shooting (4-of-6), dominating the paint with 18 offensive rebounding percentage. Denver’s Nikola Jokic posted a dominant 28 points on 57.9% shooting (11-of-19) with 10 assists for a double-double, but Cameron Johnson’s 27-point effort on 70.0% effective field goal percentage was insufficient without further support.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 110 |
| Denver Nuggets | 30 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 98 |
Minnesota Timberwolves Key Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaden McDaniels | F | 13/25 | 1/4 | 5/6 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | G | 9/20 | 1/7 | 5/5 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Rudy Gobert | C | 4/6 | —/— | 2/4 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| Naz Reid | C-F | 7/13 | 1/3 | —/— | 15 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
Team Totals: 43-94 FG (45.7%), 7-29 3P (24.1%), 17-24 FT (70.8%), 58 REB (19 OFF), 26 AST, 8 STL, 3 BLK, 110 PTS
Denver Nuggets Key Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | C | 11/19 | 1/5 | 5/6 | 28 | 9 | 10 | — |
| Cameron Johnson | F | 8/15 | 5/10 | 6/9 | 27 | 8 | 3 | — |
| Jamal Murray | G | 4/17 | —/2 | 4/4 | 12 | 6 | 4 | — |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | G-F | 4/7 | 1/2 | 4/4 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Team Totals: 34-75 FG (45.3%), 10-27 3P (37.0%), 20-25 FT (80.0%), 46 REB (6 OFF), 24 AST, 4 STL, 8 BLK, 98 PTS
Key Takeaways
- Dallas’s 149–128 victory over Chicago showcased elite three-point shooting with 22 three-pointers on 44.9% accuracy versus Chicago’s 10 three-pointers on 26.3%, representing a 12-three-pointer swing worth approximately 18 points in favorable scoring positions.
- Ryan Nembhard’s 23-assist double-double established Dallas’s offensive dominance, with elite playmaking generating 35 team assists on 52 made field goals for a pristine 0.673 assists-per-FG ratio reflecting balanced distribution.
- Minnesota’s defensive intensity in Game 6 limited Denver to 45.3% field goal shooting and forced 13 turnovers while generating 8 steals, creating a defensive rating of 117.6 points per 100 possessions that proved decisive in playoff elimination circumstances.
- Jaden McDaniels’s 32-point performance on 52.0% shooting with a double-double demonstrated Minnesota’s balanced scoring depth, establishing the multi-star approach that overwhelmed Denver’s single-star offensive reliance on Nikola Jokic’s 28-point effort.
- Chicago’s fourth-quarter 40-point outburst versus Dallas’s 30-point fourth quarter demonstrated late-game offensive momentum that fell short of overcoming the 34-point second-quarter deficit, showcasing the importance of early game execution in blowout prevention.
- Denver’s 37.0% three-point shooting (10-of-27) on Game 6 represented improved perimeter offense compared to Minnesota’s 24.1% (7-of-29), yet insufficient free throw advantage and defensive intensity prevented comeback opportunities after second-quarter collapse.
- Rudy Gobert’s 13 rebounds with 18 offensive rebounding percentage and 8 assists on 10 points demonstrated elite role-player production that generated second-chance opportunities and paint dominance forcing Denver into negative rebounding differential circumstances.
- Nikola Jokic’s 57.9% field goal shooting with double-digit assists showcased individual excellence in elimination Game 6, yet surrounding player inefficiency prevented adequate support for playoff series continuation against Minnesota’s balanced attack.
- Dallas’s 61 total rebounds with 52.0% field goal shooting established rebounding advantage and shot efficiency that powered the 21-point victory margin, with second-chance points (26 on 71.4% second-chance shooting) proving decisive in fast-paced scoring.
- Minnesota’s 26.1% offensive rebounding rate combined with 20 second-chance points created possession advantages that overcame Denver’s more efficient free throw shooting (80.0% vs 70.8%), demonstrating the importance of defensive rebounding discipline in playoff elimination scenarios.
Game Context
Chicago’s 21-point deficit entering the fourth quarter established the comeback context where Leonard Miller’s 66.7% field goal performance and the team’s 40-point fourth quarter proved insufficient against Dallas’s balanced offensive execution. Denver’s Game 6 loss eliminated them from playoff contention despite Nikola Jokic’s dominant performance, with Minnesota’s defensive execution in the second quarter establishing an insurmountable lead that dictated series elimination following the Western Conference First Round matchup.