EIn one of his most prominent games since joining the Mavericks, Kristaps Porzingis signed 29 points and 11 rebounds and Tim Hardaway had 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the Texan team to prevail over the Denver Nuggets 111-101.
The Mavs relied on a landslide start to the fourth quarter, 17-6, with 3s from Hardaway, Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock, to get to a 98-88 lead and lose no more. The funny thing is, the Mavs did that with Porzingis and Doncic on the bench and with four bases on the field.
Doncic signed 23 points and 11 assists and Jalen Brunson had 17 points off the bench for a Mavs who have won five of the last six games.
Last season’s MVP, Nikola Jokic, re-signed a game, sterile this time to lead his team. The Serbian had 35 points and 16 rebounds for a Nuggets who saw their streak of five consecutive victories cut.
The Nuggets went on to lead by as much as 13 points in the third quarter. Monte Morris contributed 17 points, Aaron Gordon 14 and Austin Rivers, 12.
Lesin de Doncic
Concern for the Mavs reached 44 seconds to go. Trying to defend an Austin Rivers tackle, Doncic fell ill on his left ankle and immediately went to the bench with signs of pain.
“Luka came out of the pavilion on his own feet,” Jason Kidd later said. “We will have to do tests and see how it evolves.” The concern is logical because the Slovenian already has a history of ankle problems.