Mavericks vs Nuggets Head to Head: Doncic, Jokic Showdown
Doncic Leads Charge in Denver
Mavs Look to Stay Hot
The Dallas Mavericks head to Denver looking to record their first three-game win streak of the season when they tackle the Nuggets at Ball Arena. Let’s take a look at the best angles in this Mavericks vs Nuggets head to head showdown.
It’s been a slow start to the season for the Mavs, who had high expectations after their run to the Western Conference Finals last season. Things might finally be turning in the right direction however, with the team stringing back-to-back wins together for the first time in almost a month.
Denver will hope for a better showing after a couple disappointing road showings in Atlanta and New Orleans respectively, with the team owning a 6-2 record straight up in front of their home fans this season. The home team have opened as 4.5-point favourites for this one, with the total set at 222.5 points.
Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets
Date & Time & Streaming:
Location: Ball Arena
Role Players Showing Up for Dallas
It may have taken a quarter of the season, but it appears that help has finally arrived for Luka Doncic as the Mavs try to find some consistency in their results.
Tim Hardaway Jr’s insertion into the starting lineup has been a big reason why this offense has begun to hum once more. The 30-year-old has averaged 23.2 points per game in his four games as a starter, recording an impressive 6.0 3-pointers per game in the process.
It’s not surprising to see the Mavs win three of their last four since having Hardaway Jr’s production added to their lineup, with the team also averaging 123.0 points per game in the process NBA standings 2022.
If the team can find a way to get this level of consistency from multiple bodies outside of just Doncic then they can return to being the type of offense that had them ranked amongst the most efficient in league history just two seasons ago.
Nuggets Still Acclimating
Denver is working through its own struggles to start the season, with the team alternating top-tier performances with that of one who often look lost and confused out on the floor.
The return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr was meant to elevate this team to new heights given the phenomenal efforts of Nikola Jokic over the past two seasons in their absence. That hasn’t quite come to fruition as yet though, with Murray and Porter both struggling to find consistent game time as they work their way back from long-term injuries.
The inconsistent lineups has made it tough for NBA players to understand their roles on any given night and it’s clearly playing a part in the often disjointed showings from Mike Malone’s side. Jokic himself has also failed to settle into a clear role as he juggles being the primary scorer and playmaker depending on who’s on the floor with him.
The two-time MVP is averaging 23 points on just 13.7 field goal attempts per game; a notable drop from the 17.9 field goal attempts he averaged over the past two seasons. Coach Malone knows what he has in Jokic and while part of his job in the short-term is to try and incorporate his returning stars into the offense it has come at the expense of results NBA point spread.
Defense Still Order of the Day for Kidd
Despite their offensive struggles being the point of conversation to start the season, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd continues to stress the need for his team to be more consistent on the defensive end of the floor in order for them to reach their goals.
Christian Wood’s time in Dallas hasn’t gone as many expected and that’s largely because Kidd has spoken about the defensive vulnerabilities that appear when he is on the floor for the Mavs. While Wood’s offense can be what this team needs there’s no denying that the team can’t find a balance with him playing.
The Mavs are -1.9 points per 100 possessions worse when Wood is on the floor and while they are marginally better on offense they still project to be -1.4 wins worse over 82 games with him on the team.
That’s not to say he isn’t valuable because there’s a fair case to be made that he’s the second best player on the team, but it seems the fit isn’t right just yet for either party and it’s something that Kidd needs to figure out.
Dallas ranks ninth in defensive efficiency on the season and their best efforts have often come against the top teams in the NBA. Another strong defensive showing will be needed against the Nuggets, who themselves rank fifth in Offensive Rating on the year.
Despite the rest advantage for Denver it’s tough to see how they pull away from a Mavericks team that is beginning to find its stride. We suggest taking the points with the Mavs in this one and trusting Dallas to continue their upward trajectory.
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