The team of Luka Dončić faced a difficult assignment when they played the current champions, Nikola Jokić and Josh Green, away from home.
The latter would have been useful against the two-time league MVP, but he damaged his ankle in the last match with Portland.
Also missing was Dereck Lively II.
Under the hoop, brilliant rookie Kyrie Irving and teammates started without the injured Despite winning the best player award last week, Dončić was not fully prepared for the match due to a health issue during morning training. The Dallas Mavericks (16-9), and Denver Nuggets (17-10), were fourth in the West before the match. The hosts scored five straight to start the game and kept ahead. Luka instantly faced ‘doubling’ and rarely threw when covering two players, but still collected assists. By midquarter, he had four passes and scored his first field goal for 15:17. He sat on the bench for the first time three minutes before the quarter ended, scoring only three points. In the last match with Portland, he scored 22 in the first quarter. His respite was brief—he returned to the game after a minute and a half. The second time in the game, he made only one of two free throws. He converted 38 of 40 free throws in the past five games, and Dallas cut the deficit to four points after scoring.
Home team led 28:20 after 12 minutes with just as many points in the series. In the second quarter, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dončić, and Grant Williams each made three-pointers, bringing Dallas within one point.
After that, Luka was elbowed in the face for the second time in the match, and the referees overlooked it again. Ref. Sha’rae Mitchell witnessed Julian Strawther’s shot from half-meter away. The match was briefly halted as Dončić, who was bleeding, sought assistance from the bench.
Denver drew away again, but Luka scored eight points in three Dallas attacks, connecting twice from behind the line. The score was 37:43. After Denver’s initial five players returned, the lead increased to 13 points. However, Dončić answered with three-pointers for 56:63.
After Denver’s five points, the Slovenian ace scored 22 points in the second quarter as the last player in the first half. While Mitchell missed his shirt pull, he made another three-pointer to make it 59:68. The Slovenian had 28 points at halftime on 10/16 shooting (6/9 three-pointers, 2/4 free throws). He had five rebounds and six assists. In contrast, Jokić scored 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Dončić scored 30 points for the 11th consecutive game after just 30 seconds in the third quarter. He also tied the league record with nine straight games of 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Only the famous Oscar Robertson did this in the 1960s (we interviewed him years ago). He swiftly reached his seventh pass and could have gathered more, but his teammates missed easy chances. Jamal Murray stuffed the Dallas basket. Denver drew away again to +12. Midway through the quarter, 82:70. Denver had their largest lead three and a half minutes before halftime. In only two games this season, Aaron Gordon made two jumpers from behind the line, both against Dallas, and the difference was 17 points after his second 3-pointer. They attempted three-pointers against Dallas to get back in the game, but they missed. Luka scored 35 and 36 free throws with one minute left in the quarter. He had 8 sacks and 8 passes. Only 80 points separated him from 10,000 career points. Denver led 98:80 heading into the fourth quarter.
Luka scored 84:105 with two оffensive rebounds. He caught 11 balls. The home team’s lead grew to 27 points after three minutes. With the score of 84:111, Dončić remained on the bench and did not play again. The reservists on both sides got their turn. The figҺt concluded 130:104. The Slovenian great scored 38 points on 13/24 (6/12 three-pointers, 6/10 free throws) with 11 rebounds and 8 assists. On a perfect 5/5 shooting, Dante Exum scored 11 points without aid. Murray scored 22 and Gordon 21. In this game, Jokić scored 8 points, had 9 catches, and 7 assists.