Triple-double specialists highlight Mavs-Nuggets showdown

As the defending champs, the Denver Nuggets are aware that every player will give their all, and on Saturday night, they experienced what it was like to lose to Oklahoma City in the final seconds. They have only suffered two home losses in twelve games this season, and on Monday night when they play the Dallas Mavericks, they will look to avoid a third. Dallas defeated Portland 131-120 on Saturday night, their fifth victory in its last six games. Luka Doncic maintained his MVP-caliber season with a triple-double of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

It was his second consecutive December in which he scored 40 points, and it was his fifth triple-double of the year and his 61st overall. Doncic averages a career-high 36.8 minutes per night and is second in the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game. “It’s more straightforward. I’ve been playing a lot of minutes lately, but I feel fine,” Doncic remarked. “Just out there playing basketball, so I’m feeling great.” The Mavericks needed Doncic’s play on Saturday night because Kyrie Irving was out due to a right heel strain and center Dereck Lively II had only played six minutes before he had to leave due to an ankle sprain.

Dallas may not have Lively to support them against Nikola Jokic in addition to being missing Josh Green (right elbow

strain) and Maxi Kleber (dislocated toe). Irving has been using a walking boot

during the current road trip. On Monday, he will miss his fifth consecutive game.

The Mavericks will have to perform at their highest level against a Denver

squad that just suffered a heartbreaking defeat. Late in the fourth quarter, the

Nuggets lead the Thunder by eight points, but Oklahoma City was still in

contention due to subpar play in the final minutes.

With a second left, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won it with a jumper. The game was won or lost by a Denver turnover on the last play. Denver’s Christian Braun stated, “We don’t usually turn it over in the last few minutes.” “We win most games in under five minutes and five points. Thus, it’s not typical of us, and you want to win that game.” The clubs play two games on Monday, and a win would send Denver to the season series championship. As part of the NBA in-season competition on November 3, the Nuggets prevailed 125-114 in the first encounter.

Not just Doncic is producing impressive stats. Jokic is the first player in NBA history to have 10 triple-doubles in a season for the seventh time in a row. In his career, he has recorded 115 triple-doubles during the regular season. Against the Thunder, he narrowly missed one more by four rebounds. Before Saturday, the Nuggets had won three straight, with Jokic receiving plenty of support from the other players on the team. Over the last two games, the bench has averaged 47 points, and Jamal Murray’s return has helped. Despite missing 14 games because of a right hamstring strain and a sore ankle, Murray is averaging 18 points per game.