Nuggets at Mavericks
The Denver Nuggets are soaring and the host Dallas Mavericks are struggling entering Friday’s contest. Denver played terrific and won for the fifth time in seven games and also recorded a season high for points with a 126-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Dallas let a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead slip away in an overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The Mavericks have lost four straight and seven of eight.
Forward Dirk Nowitzki labored for 26-plus minutes in the game against Oklahoma City in his second game back from knee surgery and admitted afterward that he’s not yet in shape. “I don’t really have that bounce in my step yet, but I’ll keep working,” said Nowitzki, who is averaging 8.5 points and six rebounds. “As long as the knee responds the right way, I think my legs will come back sooner or later.” Denver swingman Corey Brewer matched his career high with 27 points against the Lakers and drilled 6-of-7 3-point attempts. The Nuggets are just 7-13 on the road.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas), NBATV
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (16-14): Point guard Ty Lawson was sensational in Wednesday’s victory over Los Angeles. He had 17 points and a season-high 14 assists and didn’t commit a single turnover. “I thought Ty was sensational,” Denver coach George Karl said. “It’s the best he’s played all year. He’s had some cockiness to his handle. We just need him to duplicate that about 45 more times. Lawson has reached double digits in assists three times this season and is averaging 14.1 points and 7.1 assists. He downplayed his splendid performance. “We were just knocking down shots and our big men were getting wide-open dunks,” Lawson said. “They helped me out with that.”
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (12-17): Point guard Darren Collison was inserted into the starting lineup about 10 minutes before the Oklahoma City game and made coach Rick Carlisle look like a genius. Collison scored a season-high 32 points and forced overtime with an off-balance, buzzer-beating 3-pointer. “He was phenomenal for us and fun to watch,” Nowitzki said. “I hate to waste an effort like that from him, obviously. We definitely need to him to keep playing like that. Obviously, he’s not going to score 30 every night but we need him to attack and make some stuff happen.” Collison hit all four 3-point attempts for his first time making multiple 3s in the same game since Nov. 3.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Denver was won eight of the last 11 meetings in Dallas.
2. Nuggets F Kenneth Faried had 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Lakers for his 12th double-double of the season.
3. Mavericks G O.J. Mayo is just 10-of-40 from the field over the last four games while averaging only 7.3 points.