The Mavericks brought the fire on a cold night in Denver and scorched the nets from the 3-point line to send the Nuggets easily Saturday night.
Luka Doncic had a double-double with 21 points and 12 shots, and Kristaps Porzingis had a giant shooting with 25 points, including a 36-foot dagger to clinch the match.
Nikola Jokic had another double double with 26 points and 11 assistants, but the rest of the team looked like they had eaten a double double burger with a big braai and milkshake before the game as the attack and defense on the second moment struggled with energy. night of a back-to-back direct after the All-Star break. Jamal Murray had another terrible game, which could not miss his chance and anchored the bench line-up with his play in the second quarter.
MPJ had 23 points on nine shots but struggled in the first half with foul problems that limited its impact in the game.
Paul Millsap was included in the starting lineup again with his recovery from his injury, with Monte Morris not available with a four-wheeled injury. Will Barton had a nice start to the game, hitting a 3-pointer from the left wing and getting the ball into the post in Jokic for an easy basket against Kristaps Porzingis. MPJ picked up two errors in the first four minutes, and PJ Dozier got the earlier call from Coach Malone. Dozier immediately picks up a stem and strikes an undisputed dunk with two hands into the house. Porzingis scored five quick points, but a 3-point lead from Millsap helped keep the Nuggets at the forefront. Jokic was able to draw a double after hitting Porzingis around the posts, kicking the ball out to Barton for a triple, and repeating the same pattern in the next possession for a midrange jumper.
Murray continued to struggle to turn shot attempts into baskets, missing his two shot attempts, and the Mavericks were able to end the quarter on a 10-2 run with the score at 29-28, Denver advantage. Vlatko Cancar was just a hair too slow on a scramble to beat the buzzer, which would give Denver a three-point lead.
The Mavericks momentum continued into the second quarter as they scored the first two baskets, but JaMychal Green was able to give up with a 3-point answer to keep things close. The Nuggets bench struggled to get points with Murray’s slow start, with jumpers and turnover. MPJ popped in again, Dwight Powell tried to break up an alley-open attempt, and went straight back to the bench for Paul Millsap. Doncic threw a 3-point to give Dallas an eight-point lead, and the game began to feel like it was slipping away.
Jokic went over again in the second quarter with about seven minutes, shortly after Murray broke his 17 consecutive shots with a setback. Jokic quickly goes to work in the post and turns past Porzingis for a bucket in the paint. Will Barton will get the game within six points with a layup, but Denver will not narrow the gap further in that quarter.
The Mavericks opened the third quarter with five three-pointers, igniting the Nuggets from long range to Malone’s annoyance. Doncic was asked for a technician to verbally follow a referee, but that was the only stop the Nuggets could get early because they fell behind with double digits. Jamal Murray throws the ball away, leading to a transition 3-pointer, and another missed shot leads to a Brunson lineup to push the Mavericks’ lead to 20 points. They finally decided to go back to Jokic, who was able to score and make a foul against Porzingis, which could quickly give the team some energy. They found themselves on the wrong side of a 93-73 score at the end of the third quarter.
They did not surpass the Mavericks in the fourth quarter by 20 points. Not enough energy, fatigue led to turnover and missed shots did not have enough skill players off the bench to hang out with a talented team. Op to Indiana.
The Mavericks let their foot off the gas in the first half of the fourth quarter, and Michael Porter Jr. was more than willing to capitalize on the focus loss. The Nuggets forward scored 15 points in the first six minutes of the quarter, with a green light from the 3-point line to try to reduce the lead to single digits, before the clock showed zeros. Denver won a challenge at once by Facu Campazzo on Doncic, and a 3-pointer from Jokic reduced the lead to 12 points. However, a few bad offensive possessions were quickly back in favor of the Mavericks with three minutes left. Porzingis saved by about three minutes over an ugly possession with a 36-foot three-pointer, and both teams emptied their benches to complete the game.