Dallas, TX – At the American Airlines Center, the Denver Nuggets managed an exciting comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks 112-101. The Nuggets overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit, with a 33-12 advantage in the final period to secure the victory.
The Mavericks, missing their star players Luka Doncic (calf strain) and Kyrie Irving (back sprain), appeared in control of the game for most of the night. Klay Thompson scored 25 points for Dallas, which entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable margin. But the Nuggets found another gear on both ends in the final minutes.
Russell Westbrook led the charge for Denver, tallying 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Nikola Jokic played like himself, too, scoring 19 points and grabbing 18 rebounds, falling just short of another triple-double.
Kerr would be prohibited from commenting on this until he’s gotten a chance to review the video, but the nugget of state-of-the-game insight he could provide would be about the four keys that shifted in the fourth quarter, and (yes I’m setting this one up) the importance of three-point shooting in the Nuggets’ comeback. After struggling from deep for three quarters, the Nuggets made several crucial three-pointers when it mattered most. In contrast, the Mavericks turned ice cold from three, missing all 11 of their three-point attempts in the final period.
The Nuggets advance to 23-15 on the year with this win, while the Mavericks fall to 22-17.
Key takeaways from the game:
Resiliency for the Nuggets: Denver displayed their ability to respond and pull out a big road win.
Westbrook's Turnaround: Westbrook's energy and playmaking helped fuel the Nuggets' rally.
Mavericks’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse: With the game on the line, Dallas faltered on both ends, ceding control to the Nuggets.
Missing Doncic and Irving: The Mavericks are still reeling from not having their two best players, further accentuating their need to fulfill their potential.
This game showcased the Nuggets’ potential as a contender in the Western Conference, and also exposed the Mavericks’ weaknesses without their star players.