The Denver Nuggets roll into Tuesday night’s clash with the Dallas Mavericks riding a four-game winning streak, their longest since early February. Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level again, averaging 26.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.3 assists over this recent stretch. That’s the kind of production that makes a team forget about Jamal Murray's absence.
Dallas, on the other hand, is just trying to find some semblance of consistency. They’re 23-49, languishing at 13th in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic continues to put up gaudy numbers – 33.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in his last five outings – but it hasn’t translated to wins. The Mavs have dropped seven of their last ten games, including a 127-109 drubbing by the Grizzlies on Saturday where they shot just 39.8% from the field.
Denver’s home record is a stout 29-9 at Ball Arena this season. They’ve turned their building into a fortress, and it’s largely due to Jokic’s dominance. He’s got 28 triple-doubles on the year, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the most by a center in a single season. The guy is a walking stat sheet, and his passing vision is unmatched in the league. Look, I’ve seen a lot of great big men in my time, but Jokic’s ability to orchestrate an offense from the high post is truly unique. He makes everyone around him better, which is why players like Michael Porter Jr., who’s averaging 17.5 points on 56% shooting during the winning streak, look so comfortable.
The Nuggets beat the Mavericks 118-109 back on December 6th, with Jokic putting up 33 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. That was a road game for Denver, too. Expect more of the same in front of their home crowd.
The Mavericks’ road record is a dismal 9-26. They struggle to defend away from American Airlines Center, giving up an average of 118.5 points per game on the road. That’s a recipe for disaster against a Nuggets team that averages 116.7 points at home. Jason Kidd’s squad has been inconsistent defensively all year, and it's not just a matter of effort. They often look lost in transition, allowing easy buckets. Doncic is a phenomenal offensive talent, but he's not known for locking down opponents. Kyrie Irving, despite his offensive brilliance, also isn't a defensive stopper.
Here’s the thing: you can’t win consistently in the NBA if you can’t get stops. Dallas has lost 15 games by double digits this season. That points to a deeper issue than just a few bad shooting nights.
Denver is playing with confidence, cohesion, and the best big man in the league. Dallas is still searching for answers, and their road struggles are well-documented. This isn't going to be close. The Nuggets will extend their winning streak to five games, taking down the Mavericks by at least 15 points. I'm telling you, Denver is a dark horse contender for the Finals if Jokic stays healthy.