The only thing brighter than Denver’s vibrant new blue and yellow floor was Nikola Jokic’s shooting performance.
Jokic scored 33 points and made 14 of 16 from the field as the Nuggets held off the Dallas Mavericks 125-114 Friday night to open the NBA’s first in-season tournament.
Jokic also had 14 rebounds, nine assists and a rare burst of emotion after making a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
“What amazes me is just the consistency,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I mean, the guy is just great every night. … He’s just a great player. I love how he impacts the game in every way, shape and form. It truly is the definition of greatness.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 24 points and Jamal Murray had 18 points and 13 assists for the NBA champion Nuggets, who led by 20 points in the third quarter before watching Dallas cut it to eight late in the game. Jokic made a cutting layup with 1:11 remaining to seal it.
The Mavericks lost for the first time this season. Luka Doncic finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but also had nine turnovers. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points.
“There are a lot of positive things to look at,” Doncic said. “What lost us the game was my turnovers and my offensive rhythm. I think if it was last year we would have lost 30 points.
Dallas was without coach Jason Kidd, who did not make the trip due to an illness unrelated to COVID-19. Top assistant Sean Sweeney took his place on the bench.
“When you put yourself down so much early on, as we know, it’s hard to overcome that,” Sweeney said. “Especially against guys like this, who are a great team and well coached.”
Jokic showed rare emotion in the first half, letting out a scream after making a 3-point basket at the buzzer. It was important, too, because it pushed Denver’s lead to 15 points.
So why this cry?
“It was a good play,” Jokic said casually, “and I finally made a 3.”
Before the game, the 3-point line on the Nuggets’ colored court had to be repainted after being repainted. found out it was fake distance. Both teams shot well from deep, hitting a combined 41.7 percent (30 of 72) from 3-point range.
This was the first tournament game of the season for each team. The Nuggets, wearing their “5280” uniform, and the Mavericks are in Group B in the West with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans, Dallas and Houston. The six group winners advance to the quarter-finals, alongside two wild-card teams – the two best runners-up from the groups.
One of the tiebreakers that will be in play during the tournament is point differential, which can impact whether coaches take their foot off the gas, even if they’re big. Malone said there is an “unwritten rule about respecting the game, respecting your opponent, but at the same time, if it’s going to help us move forward, you have to use everything to your advantage.”
The quarterfinal matches will take place on December 4 and 5 at the highest seeds; the semifinals will take place on December 7 in Las Vegas and the title game will take place on December 9 in Las Vegas as the teams compete for the NBA Cup.
“One of the coaches said, ‘Hey, man, we’re almost to Vegas,’” Malone cracked. “We have to win a few more games.”
FOLLOWING
Mavericks: Host the Clippers on November 10 in the next tournament game of the season. Host Charlotte on Sunday in a regular game.
Nuggets: Host the Clippers on November 14 in the next tournament game of the season. Host Chicago on Saturday in a regular game.
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