It was Najera to the rescue.

At least that's the way Mavericks coach Don Nelson summed up Dallas' 105-91 win over the Nuggets on Thursday night.

"The best decision I made today I made in my general manager capacity ? I activated Eduardo Najera," Nelson said. "We needed him because we just didn't have anybody sharp tonight."

Najera, who played at Cornerstone and the University of Oklahoma, had spent all of this season on the injured list with tendinitis in his left knee. He showed no ill effects during his rambunctious, dominant inside game.

He grabbed 10 rebounds, scored nine points ? two off a ferocious putback dunk ? and blocked two shots. Mostly he energized a team that seemed ready to slip into a lull after it had rung up a 16-point first quarter lead.

The Mavericks' 5-1 start matches that of the 1995-96 season as Dallas' best.

Dirk Nowitzki again provided the offensive fireworks.