The Dallas Mavericks had a golden opportunity slip through their fingers on Sunday afternoon. Despite building a 19-point lead against a fully healthy Denver Nuggets team, the Mavs ultimately fell short, losing 112-101.
Playing without stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Dallas came out of the gates hot, catching Denver off guard with a 32-17 first quarter. The Mavericks extended their lead to 19 points in the third quarter, but that’s when things began to unravel.
The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, slowly chipped away at the deficit. With 6:42 left in the game, Dallas still clung to a 96-94 lead. However, Denver closed out the contest on an 18-5 run, leaving the Mavericks and their fans stunned.
Spencer Dinwiddie stepped up in the absence of Doncic and Irving, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists. However, his 4-of-13 shooting performance left much to be desired, especially in crunch time when the team needed a go-to scorer.
Dereck Lively II continued to impress, showcasing his playmaking ability with seven assists. The rookie center’s two-man game with Klay Thompson proved to be a bright spot for the Mavericks, offering a glimpse of a potentially potent offensive weapon when the team returns to full strength.
Foul trouble limited Lively’s impact, as he played just 27 minutes. This forced head coach Jason Kidd to turn to smaller lineups, which struggled to contain Denver’s size advantage.
The loss stings for Dallas, not only because of the blown lead but also due to potential playoff implications. With the Western Conference standings so tightly packed, every game against a contender like Denver could prove crucial come season’s end.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Mavericks’ performance against the Nuggets, tune into the Locked On Mavericks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Mavericks Podcast:
• Naji Marshall’s bounce-back performance
• PJ Washington’s defensive versatility
• Jaden Hardy’s struggles and playmaking flashes
