Mavericks vs. Nuggets Recap: 3 takeaways as Dallas loses 142-135 at Denver
The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight recreation Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a recreation that felt inside attain early earlier than fully getting away from them late. Dallas had a couple of strong stretches to start out, exhibiting some offensive rhythm and power, however couldn’t maintain it as Denver’s shot-making and general execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his sturdy stretch with 26 factors, eight rebounds, and 7 assists, whereas P.J. Washington added 19 factors and 15 rebounds with regular manufacturing inside. On the opposite aspect, Jamal Murray put collectively a dominant efficiency with 53 factors, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated all the pieces with 23 factors, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, because the Nuggets managed the sport from the center quarters on.
The Mavericks hung round for stretches within the first half, however a Jamal Murray explosion finally tilted the sport, because the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a recreation that rapidly began to really feel prefer it was slipping away. Dallas opened with strong power, getting contributions from a number of spots, as Naji Marshall scored effectively and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as each a scorer and a playmaker, serving to preserve issues inside attain. Flagg had a noticeable affect in these opening minutes—flattening pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating appears to be like for others—whereas Marshall’s shot-making saved the offense afloat throughout key stretches.
But each time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had a solution. He fully took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half factors on 11-of-15 capturing and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and difficult contested photographs that Dallas merely couldn’t decelerate. At the identical time, Nikola Jokić quietly managed all the pieces else, ending the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, constantly creating straightforward appears to be like and conserving Denver’s offense flowing even with out scoring a lot himself.
Dallas had some vibrant spots, although. There have been moments particularly within the third the place Dallas strung collectively a couple of stops and obtained downhill, nevertheless it by no means changed into something actual, as missed photographs, turnovers, and Denver’s prompt responses saved resetting the margin.
If this recreation didn’t make it apparent, nothing will Dallas desperately wants a guard who can defend on the level of assault. Jamal Murray didn’t simply have a great evening, he had full management, getting wherever he needed and scoring nevertheless he needed, ending with 53 factors on 19-of-28 capturing and 9-of-14 from three. There was no actual resistance on the prime of the protection nobody who might constantly keep in entrance, disrupt his rhythm, and even make him uncomfortable. Once he obtained downhill or into his pull-up recreation, it was over, and that sort of strain fully breaks a protection earlier than it even has an opportunity to rotate.
This is the place roster development begins to matter. Dallas has size and a few versatility within the frontcourt, however with out a guard who can really include the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to wash all the pieces up each possession, particularly towards elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft turns into so necessary. It’s not nearly including talen it’s about including the proper of participant. Someone who can battle over screens, keep hooked up, and not less than make life more durable for guys like Murray on the level of assault.
Because nights like this aren’t nearly one participant getting sizzling they expose a structural situation. And till Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that stage, that is going to maintain taking place.
Someone seeds to shut, finally
The Mavericks have performed a ton of shut video games this season, however the outcomes simply haven’t adopted, and that’s one thing that continues to indicate up late in these losses. Too typically, possessions in crunch time flip into rushed photographs, stalled actions, or empty journeys, whereas a single defensive breakdown on the opposite finish swings momentum the opposite means. It’s not only one recreation it’s been a sample, and it speaks to a group that’s nonetheless studying methods to execute when all the pieces tightens up.
That stated, context issues proper now. Dallas isn’t essentially making an attempt to squeeze out each late-game win at this level within the season, and losses like these really assist their lottery positioning. There’s worth in being aggressive and getting these reps with out sacrificing long-term upside, particularly in a robust draft class.
But long run, that is one thing to look at particularly with Cooper Flagg. He’s already exhibiting flashes as a major creator, however closing video games is the following step: controlling tempo, attending to the proper spots, and making the proper reads underneath strain. It’s okay that it’s messy proper now given the place the group is, but when the Mavericks wish to take an actual step ahead subsequent season, turning these shut video games into wins must be a part of that progress.
Cooper Flagg continues to shine
Cooper Flagg continues to look increasingly just like the centerpiece of what Dallas is constructing, and nights like this are a giant a part of why. He completed with 26 factors, 8 rebounds, and seven assists, impacting the sport in nearly each means regardless of the end result. What stands out isn’t simply the manufacturing it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and constantly placing strain on the protection as each a scorer and playmaker.
This stretch has been particularly encouraging. Over the previous few video games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not simply in scoring, however in general management of the sport. He’s beginning to look extra comfy as the first choice, selecting his spots higher and exhibiting extra endurance when defenses collapse. Even when photographs don’t fall, he’s nonetheless influencing possessions by rebounds, assists, and defensive exercise.
There are nonetheless issues to wash up, particularly late-game execution and shot choice in tighter moments, however that’s anticipated at this stage. The necessary half is that the flashes have gotten extra constant. For a group leaning into improvement, Flagg isn’t simply placing up numbers he’s exhibiting actual indicators of progress as a lead initiator, and that’s the largest takeaway transferring ahead.
