December 19: On Monday night, the host Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 130-104 thanks to 22 points from Jamal Murray and 21 points from Aaron Gordon, who tied his career best.

For Denver, Julian Strawther scored 12, Zeke Nnaji scored 14, and Reggie Jackson scored 20 points.

In the end, Nikola Jokic ended with nine rebounds, seven assists, and eight points on 3-of-8 shooting. This is the third time this season that he has failed to score in double figures; however, in the other two games in which he failed to score at least ten points, he was dismissed before halfway.

For Dallas, Luka Doncic had a game-high 38 points, including 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 28 points in the first half. Doncic is averaging 36.6 points, 11.6 assists, and 9.3 rebounds this month as he continues his wild December.

For the Mavericks, Dante Exum added 11 more points.

Doncic scored just six points in the first quarter, but in the second, he seemed to have it all. He finished the quarter with 22 points after hitting 8 for 9 from the field and 6 for 7 from beyond the arc.

Despite Dallas’ early 9-2 run to pull within 30-29 at the beginning of the quarter, the Nuggets managed to win the quarter. Jokic was the only Nugget who did not score during the quarter as he did not take a shot or free throw. The other nine Nuggets who participated did score. Denver was still ahead 68-59 at the break.

Denver’s lead increased to 75-63 in the third quarter as Murray scored the team’s first seven points. Doncic’s two free throws and Grant Williams’ layup brought the Mavericks’ lead to 77-70, but Murray’s three-pointer started a run that extended the Nuggets’ advantage to 12 with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter.

Subsequently, the Nuggets capitalised on the Mavericks’ nearly four-minute scoring drought. Late in the third quarter, Denver led 94-74 thanks to baskets from Michael Porter Jr. off an offensive rebound, a layup by Christian Braun, and three-pointers from Gordon and Peyton Watson.

Before the fourth quarter, the Nuggets led 98–80 thanks to Jackson’s fadeaway jumper.

With a layup to start the last 12 minutes, Strawther made a pull-up 3-pointer, and Watson added another triple to start a 13-4 run that put the game out of reach in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.