Because they are the reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets know they will receive everyone’s best game, and they found out how it felt Saturday night in a last-second loss to Oklahoma City.

It was only their second home loss in 12 games this season, and they’ll look to avoid a third when they play the hotly favored Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.

Dallas has won five of its last six games, including a 131-120 victory over Portland on Saturday night. Luka Doncic continued his MVP-caliber season with a triple-double of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

It was his fifth triple-double of the season and 61st of his career, and he scored 40 points for the second time in December. Doncic is the NBA’s second leading scorer, averaging 32.7 points per game while playing a career-high 36.8 minutes per night.

“It is less difficult. “I’ve been playing a lot of minutes recently, but I’m feeling good,” Doncic said. “Just out there playing basketball, so I’m feeling great.”

Doncic’s performance on Saturday night was critical, with the Mavericks missing Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion) and center Dereck Lively II playing just six minutes before leaving with an ankle strain.

Dallas was already missing Maxi Kleber (dislocated toe) and Josh Green (right elbow strain) and may now be without Lively to counter Nikola Jokic.

Irving is currently on the road trip, but he is wearing a walking boot. He will miss his fifth game in a row on Monday.

The Mavericks will need to be at their best against a Denver team that is coming off a loss. The Nuggets lead the Thunder by eight points late in the fourth quarter, but poor execution kept Oklahoma City within striking distance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won it with a one-second jumper. The loss was sealed by a Denver turnover on the final play.

“That’s not something we normally do, turning it over down the stretch,” Denver’s Christian Braun said. “We win most games in five minutes and five points.” So it’s out of character for us, and it’s a game you want to win.”

Monday’s game is the second of three between the teams, and a win would give Denver the season series. On Nov. 3, as part of the NBA in-season competition, the Nuggets won the first meeting 125-114.

Doncic isn’t the only one putting up impressive figures. Jokic has 10 triple-doubles for the seventh consecutive season, becoming the first player in NBA history to do so. He has 115 regular-season triple-doubles in his career and missed another one against the Thunder by four rebounds.

Before Saturday, the Nuggets had won three in a row, with Jokic receiving plenty of help from the rest of the team. The bench has scored 47 points per game over the last two games, and the return of Jamal Murray has helped.

Murray is averaging 18 points per game after missing 14 games due to a right hamstring strain and a sprained ankle.