Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Picks and Predictions November 22nd 2024

Nuggets vs Mavericks November 22nd 2024

At 10:00 ET, the Denver Nuggets (-146) will host the Dallas Mavericks (+123) in a Western Conference matchup. The Nuggets are favored by 3 points, and the over/under line is set at 227.

This game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver and can be seen on ESPN. The Mavericks come in with a record of 8-7, which is good for 9th in the Western Conference. They are on a 3-game win streak. The Nuggets are 8-5 and sit 5th in the West. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division.

Mavericks vs. Nuggets Key Information

The Mavericks improved to 8-7 on the season with a dominant 132-91 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday. Playing at home, Dallas was favored by 13 points and covered the spread with ease, winning by 41 points. The total points for the game reached 223, just surpassing the over/under line of 222.

Dallas set the tone early with an 11-0 run, jumping out to a 22-6 lead. They led 44-29 after the 1st quarter but slowed down in the 2nd, where they were outscored 22-19. The Mavericks regained control in the 3rd, outscoring the Pelicans 34-18, and finished strong in the 4th with a 35-22 advantage.

Luka Dončić led the Mavericks with 26 points and 5 assists in their 132-91 win over the Pelicans, shooting 62.5% from the field. Klay Thompson added 19 points, hitting 5 threes at a 55.6% rate, while Kyrie Irving contributed 18 points, connecting on 4 threes at 80% efficiency.

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As a team, the Mavericks shot 52.1% from the field and made 14 threes, hitting 45.2% from beyond the arc. Dončić scored 10 points in the 4th quarter, while Naji Marshall added 11 of his 15 points in the final period.

The Mavericks put on a defensive clinic against the Pelicans, holding them to just 91 points on 39% shooting. After giving up 29 points in the 1st quarter, Dallas tightened up, allowing just 22 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters and a mere 18 in the 3rd.

From beyond the arc, the Mavericks limited the Pelicans to 11 threes on 34% shooting. Dallas also controlled the boards, giving up just 7 offensive rebounds. They finished with 12 steals and 7 blocks.

The Nuggets improved to 8-5 on the season with a 122-110 win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday. Denver, who entered the game as +6 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total points of 232 exceeded the O/U line of 224.

A key moment came when Denver went on an 11-0 run, turning a 65-57 deficit into a 68-65 lead. They outscored Memphis 92-78 going into the 4th quarter, and despite losing the final quarter 32-30, they held on for the win.

Jamal Murray’s 27 points and 6 assists led the Nuggets to a 122-110 win over the Grizzlies, with Murray hitting 5 threes at a 50% rate. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 52.4% from the field, while Christian Braun contributed 19 points, shooting 58.3%.

Denver shot 48% from the field, making 12 threes at 33.3%. Murray scored 10 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters, while Braun added 6 points in the final period.

Defensively, the Nuggets were strong in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up just 24 and 21 points, respectively, but they struggled in the 2nd and 4th, allowing 33 and 32 points. Still, they held the Grizzlies to 110 points on 39% shooting.

Denver’s defense was particularly effective against the three, limiting Memphis to 9 made threes on 23% shooting. The Nuggets also racked up 15 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

The Mavericks come in as the underdog at +3, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 227, and our model predicts the Mavericks and Nuggets to score a combined 214 points. We recommend betting on the under.

Mavs’ Luka Doncic Out, Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Questionable Ahead of Clash

The Denver Nuggets may welcome back their superstar Nikola Jokic, but the Dallas Mavericks will have to forge ahead without Luka Doncic when the two teams meet Friday night in Denver.

The game holds significant implications as it essentially serves as an elimination game in the NBA Cup group stage. Both teams have one loss in the West Group C standings, and the loser will not advance to the knockout round.

Jokic Questionable, Doncic Sidelined

Jokic, a three-time MVP, missed Denver’s recent three-game road trip due to personal reasons. He is listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup, with the Nuggets hoping to have his triple-double average (29.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 11.2 assists) back on the floor.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks will definitely be without Doncic, who suffered a right wrist injury in Tuesday’s game. According to reports, Doncic is expected to miss at least a week, sidelining him for a critical stretch of games.

“Injuries are a part of sport and unfortunately he’s had a couple here early,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Hopefully that means he won’t have any going forward. After this last one, hopefully he’s clean for the rest of the way.”

Mavericks Adjust Without Doncic

Even without Doncic, the Mavericks have Kyrie Irving leading the backcourt. Irving scored a season-high 43 points in the team’s narrow 122-120 loss to Denver on Nov. 10 but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Dallas also has reinforcements in P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II, both of whom missed the previous meeting but have since returned to the lineup. The Mavericks enter the game on a three-game win streak and will need a complete team effort to keep the momentum going.

“Next man up. Just be ready to guard the best man or just have the best man guard you,” said Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. “It’s going to be a lot on Kyrie. It’s going to be a lot on Klay (Thompson). But I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job whenever Luka has been off the floor.”

Nuggets Battling Depth Issues

The Nuggets snapped a two-game losing streak without Jokic with a 122-110 win over Memphis on Tuesday. However, the victory came at a cost as forward Vlatko Cancar suffered a left knee injury. Cancar’s timeline remains uncertain, but head coach Michael Malone hinted that it is not necessarily season-ending.

“Not necessarily (season-ending). It could go a couple different ways,” Malone said Thursday. “We’re still gathering information, letting the knee calm down a little bit. But he’s out for the foreseeable future.”

Denver has already been dealing with injuries to Aaron Gordon (calf) and Jokic, limiting their rotation. In Jokic’s absence, Dario Saric has stepped up in a starting role, recording a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in Sunday’s 105-90 loss to Memphis.

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Key Matchup

The focus will be on Irving for Dallas and potentially Jokic for Denver, but the depth players could decide this game. For Denver, guard Trey Alexander saw nine minutes against Memphis and may see an increased role. Saric, who rejoined the rotation after a brief stint out of it, will also be pivotal in the Nuggets’ plans if Jokic is unavailable.

The Mavericks will look to Irving to lead the offense while players like Washington and Lively step up to fill the void left by Doncic.

This game is a must-win for both teams, as only the victor will keep their NBA Cup hopes alive.