Mavs Game Observations: Game 39 vs Nuggets

Come to steam off after a disappointing loss, stay for new Dereck Lively II highs

Photo by Sam Hodde / Getty Images

“Being consistent in an inconsistent environment is tough.”

This post-game quote from Spencer Dinwiddie perfectly captures the Mavericks’ biggest challenge right now. We’ve seen several good moments from many different role players, but consistently maintaining a high level of play is not easy. That’s what stars do—and why they earn the big bucks. And it’s exactly what the Mavericks are missing with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving watching from the sidelines.

And as we saw in last night’s 112-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Mavericks’ up-and-down performances aren’t just game-to-game but also within the games themselves. The Dončić and Kyrie-less Mavericks have played several great quarters recently but struggled to sustain that level for a full 48 minutes. Last night followed that pattern, with two standout stretches—a dominant first quarter and an exciting, encouraging half of the third quarter. Unfortunately, those bright moments were overshadowed by a complete collapse in the final 17 minutes, where the Nuggets outscored the Mavericks 45 to 18. It’s tough to keep a level head and stay focused on the bigger picture after a disappointing loss in a winnable game.

Still, there have been plenty of positives in recent games—things that could make a real difference when the superstars return, and the Mavericks (hopefully) make a strong push. Last night, Klay Thompson and Dereck Lively II showed something, and if you’re looking for positive vibes, jump straight to my 3rd and 4th observations and video breakdowns.

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Today’s notes:

1. Opportunity lost

2. Collapse on the boards, in transition, and during non-Jokić minutes

3. Super fun Klay and Lively two-man game (🎞️VIDEO)

4. Dereck Lively II adding new stones to a mosaic of growth (🎞️VIDEO)

5. Too little, from too few, and looking ahead to the rematch

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1-Opportunity lost

In my preview, I said the Mavericks would try to steal one in this mini-series against the Nuggets, and last night seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The Nuggets’ offense, which had been so explosive recently, struggled out of the gate, scoring a season-low 17 points in the first quarter. Denver shot just 22 percent from three. The Nuggets had more turnovers than the Mavericks. Dallas got to the line more. The Mavericks played solid defense, keeping Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in check for the most part, with Naji Marshall stepping up on several possessions to force turnovers while defending Murray.

This was the game the Mavericks should’ve stolen, if not for…

2-Collapse on the boards, in transition, and during non-Jokić minutes

Defensive rebounding has been a painful spot for the Mavericks all season. We’ve seen them pull it together and do well, like in the recent stretch, only to completely fall apart in games like last night. Denver posted a staggering 40 percent offensive rebound rate, leading to 9 more field goal attempts and a lopsided 27-8 advantage in second-chance points. The Mavericks played big for most of the night, with plenty of minutes featuring lineups that included Maxi Kleber, P.J. Washington, and a center. Yet, they were still dominated on the glass, underscoring that rebounding requires a full team effort. Last night, the bigs were collectively and unsuccessfully focused on outwrestling Jokić, which allowed several rebounds to be snatched up by Denver’s wings.

Add the inability to stop the ball in transition—primarily on Westbrook’s attacks—and losing both non-Jokić stints, and you get an overall good half-court defensive performance undone by a lack of attention to detail. The second non-Jokić stint in the fourth quarter was especially brutal, as the Mavericks squandered a 10-point lead in less than three minutes. Dallas desperately needed that cushion heading into crunch time against arguably the most lethal end-of-game duo in Jokić and Murray—particularly if the plan was to counter with Spencer Dinwiddie iso ball.

3-Super fun Klay and Lively two-man game (🎞️VIDEO)