“I’m going to go home and pray for some help.” After the match, Mike Malone summed up the feeling of this Denver team, deprived of its double MVP, its leader and its strong winger, in isolation or sick. Obviously, difficult for this team to compete in Dallas without three starters.
The final addition is heavy (+27), Luka Doncic having fun blowing up defensive covers all evening. The Slovenian finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, for his 50th career triple-double.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Denver held a quarter. Even without their three holders, the Nuggets had started rather well, with rhythm and a Jeff Green who took advantage of it. Opposite, it was Christian Wood who launched the Mavericks with 13 points in the first quarter. The problem for Denver was that Luka Doncic then took charge in the second quarter, and other than Bruce Brown, there was no one else to answer…
— Luka Doncic faster than Magic Johnson. Did he stay in the game in the last quarter to get this 50th career triple-double? In any case, the stat is there and Luka Doncic reaches the 50 triple-double mark in just 278 games. That’s faster than Magic Johnson (279), but less than Oscar Robertson (111).
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Luka Doncic. The Mavericks’ entire offense revolves around his ability to get the best of his defenders and then punish assists or deuces. These diminished Nuggets did not succeed in slowing him down and the Slovenian therefore offers himself a new recital, despite a clumsiness at 3-points still present.
✅ Christian Wood. His defense is always suspect but the inside really brings a new dimension to Dallas’ game when he’s on the court alongside Luka Doncic. Able to finish in the circle or to move away, he makes the opposing defenses dizzy. 28 points in 26 minutes for him.
✅ Bruce Brown. Denver’s best player in this game, with 18 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds. He tried to answer Luka Doncic in the second quarter, but it was too complicated.
⛔ Michael Porter Jr.. We could also have mentioned Bones Hyland, author of 17 points at 5/16 in shooting, plus 6 assists, and who has the worst +/- of the match (-24) but the winger is not far behind (-21 ) and his case seems especially much more problematic. Because with his maximum contract, his limits in defense and his lack of impact when his shot does not fit (4/15), Michael Porter Jr. could quickly become a problem for the Nuggets…
THE FOLLOWING
Dallas (9-6) : reception from Denver, always, on the night of Sunday to Monday (01:30).
Denver (9-6) : trip to Dallas, still, in the night from Sunday to Monday (01:30).
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