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The Nuggets came into Dallas Monday night looking to win two straight for just the second time this season against a beaten-up Mavericks team.
However, it was Denver who looked beat up all night, dropping this one 112-92. The Nuggets never led in the loss.
Denver did themselves no favors out of the gate, immediately in a 10-2 hole after four quick turnovers. Mavericks center Salah Mejri would record three blocks in the first quarter, including an emphatic swat from behind on Will Barton in semi-transition to set the tone early. Wesley Matthews continued his hot shooting (21.7 ppg in last eight games) en route to scoring 14 first-half points.
For the third straight game, Michael Malone went with Darrell Arthur in the starting lineup. The Nuggets had won both of their most recent first quarters by 29-18 and 32-29 margins respectively, and their +14 plus-minus in the first quarter over those two games was the fourth-best mark in the league during that span.
But Denver was back to its first quarter struggles, losing 27-19 after one frame tonight. The Mavs shot 63 percent against the Nuggets’ 36 percent and five turnovers. Arthur was -8 on the court in the first quarter.
The second quarter served to frustrate Malone to no end. The visibly upset head coach burned a timeout when Dallas stretched their lead to 50-37 after lackadaisical defense led to an easy two for Justin Anderson.
The timeout didn’t quell the storm. A quick 10-0 run by Dallas stretched the lead to 60-41. The final damage after two quarters: 65-43 Mavericks, with Dallas shooting 65 percent in their best half of the season.
Kenneth Faried has a nice history against the Mavs and was coming off one of his best games of the season, but didn’t play a minute in the first half. The Nuggets clearly missed the Faried’s energy. They also turned the ball over 11 times in a sloppy, sluggish first two quarters.
Faried finally entered the game midway through the third quarter. He averages a double-double lifetime against Dallas, but he was not the antidote tonight. After hitting a quick bucket, Faried lost Dorian Finney-Smith on the perimeter and gave up an easy three, causing Malone to call yet another quick timeout (5th of the quarter) with Dallas up 82-54.
The barrage continued unabated, as the Nuggets looked very much like a road-weary team just eager to get back home. Matthews, Finney-Smith and Deron Williams combined for four threes in the third quarter. Williams’ triple at the end of the period stretched the lead to 92-69, and it was all over but the box score details entering the fourth.
FOOTNOTES
Emmanuel Mudiay started again after missing one game due to an ankle injury. The young point guard had a good night from the field (6-12 for 17 points) but had four more turnovers in the loss.
Wilson Chandler returned after missing the win over Orlando but was -19 with just two points.
It was a game of high water marks for Dallas, who had their highest-scoring half (65 points), most fast break points of the season (21), highest field goal percentage (58.4%) and achieved their biggest lead of the season (28 points). Finney-Smith also had a career-high 13 points.
WHERE/WHEN
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas | December 12, 2016
NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME
Nikola Jokic was the Nuggets’ lone bright spot in this one. Jokic poured in 27 points on 10-12 shooting, with 11 boards and four assists.
It may be time for Malone to get Jokic back in the starting center spot.
BY THE NUMBERS
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Arthur with the steal and breakaway jam –
DA steal…
DA DUNK.Here we go! #Nuggets https://t.co/n2S7hTzT4D
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2016
Mudiay’s dish
Drive it.
Dish it.
Drain it.#Nuggets https://t.co/GXcfd99W4I— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2016
Murray providing a brief spark off the bench
MURRAY.#Nuggets https://t.co/mlm7c2JNPi
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2016
Barton with a stop-and-pop
There you go, Thrill.#Nuggets https://t.co/snAPn10fTa
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2016
Gallinari for three
Gallo: got it.
Let's go. #Nuggets https://t.co/yHA1grmXNd
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2016
WHATS NEXT
The Nuggets return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, December 15. They will then take on the New York Knicks (12/17) and the Mavericks (12/19) at the Pepsi Center.
