How Nuggets Exploited Luka Doncic's Shorthanded Mavs

The Nuggets identified some key weaknesses to exploit against the Mavs in their blowout victory on Monday despite Luka Doncic's big performance.

DENVER — The Dallas Mavericks trailed by only nine points at halftime in their 130-104 loss against the Denver Nuggets on Monday but found themselves down by as many as 36 points at one point. Luka Doncic recorded 38 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Still, without Kyrie Irving or Dereck Lively II in the lineup, the Mavs had to be even more significant on the margins in areas they could not. 

The precise issue the Mavs faced was a lack of defensive execution, often struggling to make the necessary rotations after doubling Nikola Jokic in the post. A combination of three players scored at least 20 points, including Michael Porter Jr. (22 points), Aaron Gordon (21 points), and Reggie Jackson (20 points), along with a total of six double-figure scorers. 

“As a coach I need to be better,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “But the big thing is our defense. Our defense — if we are not scoring — needs to be better to give us a chance. We can’t just rely on Luka to have 40 to bail us out.”

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Entering the matchup, the Nuggets' game-planning efforts felt a critical weakness to exploit of the Mavs would be getting out to run in transition. Dallas has played shorthanded due to injuries, requiring players to spend more time on the floor. Adding in the altitude of the Mile High City, the Nuggets felt they'd have an edge.

"I think every team has a weakness, and we just felt like we could get out and run," Nuggets star Jamal Murray said. "Especially at home in the altitude. Just a part of the game plan, and I think we did a good job executing and staying consistent with it. 

"All five that were out there, I think we did a good job trying to keep them off balance and try to score some easy ones in transition," Murray explained. 

While Nikola Jokic isn't going to blaze down the court, his throw-ahead passing puts the Nuggets in a position to push the pace after corraling missed shots. Denver pushed the pace after forcing turnovers as well. The Mavs gave up a season-high 36 fastbreak points, with 14 occurring in the first quarter alone. 

"[The Nuggets] are actually very good in transition," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "When you talk about [Nikola] Jokic and the homerun pass, they get out. [Aaron] Gordon, in the first quarter, they had 14 transition points. Our half-court was fine, but giving up 28 in the first, with 14 of them in transition. 

"That puts you in a bad situation, especially when they play in the half-court," Kidd explained. "They play through Joker [Nikola Jokic], and you expect them to score. So, when you give up points in transition, it just makes it a little bit tougher, and tonight it was tough for us."

The Nuggets not only set a new season-high in transition scoring, but they managed to do so in bench points as well, with 62 coming from their second unit. 

"I thought our bench was really good tonight," Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. "I was proud of them because when you go in the game and you’re playing with the lead, players have a tendency to say, ‘Okay, I’m going to get mine now.’ 

"That group played the right way, building good habits," Malon explained. "I thought that entire group from Reggie [Jackson], to CB [Christian Braun], to Julian [Strawther], to Peyton [Watson], to Zeke [Nnaji], those guys were outstanding."

The Mavs will have their work cut out on Wednesday when they face the surging Los Angeles Clippers, who have won eight consecutive games.