The Mavericks are catching a huge break this weekend, although it will rob fans of their only chances this regular-season to see two-time MVP Nikola Jokic in Dallas.
The Denver Nuggets’ superstar center entered the NBA’s health & safety protocols on Tuesday and will be lost for their visits to American Airlines Center on Friday and Sunday.
Without Jokic on Wednesday, the Nuggets suffered a 106-103 home loss to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. Just as the Mavericks found out how tough life is without Luka Dončić in their loss to Houston on Wednesday, the Nuggets found out what it’s like to go to battle without their superstar, too.
The Mavericks expect to have Luka back on Friday after he sat out the second night of back-to-back games. He will be a welcomed sight, for sure and should give the Mavericks a major advantage against the short-staffed Nuggets.
Not that Denver is bereft of talent without Jokic. Forward Michael Porter Jr. has seemed to put his injury-riddled past behind him and has had a strong start to the season. Jamal Murray has returned from knee surgery and is averaging better than 16 points per game, but he won’t be playing either as he has entered safety protocols, like Jokic.
Even so, it will be up to the Mavericks to take advantage of the Nuggets not having Jokic, just as Houston did when Luka was out.
Here’s what else you need to know as the Nuggets visit Friday night:
- The Mavericks are coming off a miserable outing against the Rockets. They shot just 30 percent and even when you get 102 shots, that’s still pretty feeble production.
- The starters against Houston combined for just 27 points and they were 2-of-24 from three-point range. The Mavericks took 55 triples against the Rockets, yet made only 12, just two more than the Rockets, who only fired up 22 three-pointers.
- Denver is coming off a narrow loss against the Knicks. The Nuggets gave up 34 points and 11 rebounds to Julius Randle. Former Maverick DeAndre Jordan is starting at center in Jokic’s place, so perhaps the Mavericks can attack the paint a bit more than they did against Houston.
- The Mavericks had 19 shots blocked by the Rockets, a franchise record for shots rejected in a game. Add that with the inordinate number of 3-pointers and it’s easy to see where things went south.
- Coming off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 28 points against Houston and Christian Wood had 26. They were the only Mavericks to score in double figures.
- This is the fourth of a five-game home stand, on which the Mavericks are 2-1 so far. They had a five-game home stand in late October/early November and went 4-1. They are 6-2 at American Airlines Center.
- This is the only occasion this season when a team plays consecutive games in Dallas. The Mavericks will do so on the road Dec. 19 and 21 at Minnesota, Jan. 14 and 15 at Portland and Feb. 10 and 11 at Sacramento. They also will have two games in a row in Los Angeles in January, but one is against the Lakers, the other against the Clippers.
- The Mavericks have won three of the last four meetings between these teams and the home side won all three contests last season.
DENVER NUGGETS (9-5) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (8-6)
When: 7:30, Friday.
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest.
Radio: 97.1 The Freak, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
Twitter: @ESefko
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