The Mavericks, and especially Luka Dončić, weren’t going to let it happen again.
Three times in this young season, they’ve played opponents who were missing their leading scorer.
Three times they lost those games.
But they got it right Friday night against the Denver Nuggets, who not only were without two-time MVP Nikola Jokic but also high-scoring guard Jamal Murray, both going through the NBA’s safety protocols.
So the Mavericks jumped out to an early double-digit lead and never took their foot off the gas, waxing the Nuggets 127-99 in the first of two meetings at American Airlines Center.
The rematch comes Sunday and the Mavericks would love nothing more than a repeat of Friday.
Dončić, clearly feeling refreshed after his first game off on Wednesday, orchestrated everything for the Mavericks and piled up the 50th triple-double of his career with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
He got great support from Christian Wood, who finished with 28 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks improved to 9-6 on the season and 3-1 on this home stand that concludes Sunday.
It was a major improvement on games against New Orleans (without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram), Orlando (without Paolo Banchero) and Washington (without Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal), all of whom beat the Mavericks.
“We’ve been in this situation a lot this season early,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Hopefully that’s just a sign that we’re growing as a team.”
Dončić was determined not to let a bad loss happen again. He became the second-fastest player to 50 triple-doubles, behind only Oscar Robertson. He had sat out his first game of the season Wednesday in the loss to Houston and said he was noticeably fresher on Friday.
The triple-double was proof.
“We kind of know when the other team has superstars out, we kind of lose the game,” Dončić said. “Today we had to change this. They’re still a good team.”
The triple-double was the highlight and certainly a hot topic after the game.
“It’s great, amazing,” he said. “It’s a pleasure. I’m just really glad I’m here and doing this. I had no idea (it was his 50th).”
Said Kidd: “It’s very impressive. He’s already re-writing the record books. To be the second-fastest to 50 just shows you how good he is.”
And not just when it comes to the triple-doubles.
For instance, late in the third quarter, Luka was matched up defensively against Bones Hyland and picked his pocket cleanly before hitting the floor and being fouled by Hyland.
It was an emotional moment for Luka, who fashions himself as an improving defender, which he is. He walked to the other end of the court with arms outstretched triumphantly.
That helped the Mavericks get away to a 105-83 lead going into the fourth quarter, when the only question was whether Luka would be needed or whether he would have to settle for being one rebound away from the 50th triple-double of his career.
That answer came quickly as Luka stayed in the game to start the fourth quarter and got his 10th rebound a minute into it.
“It’s great, we got to make sure we win the game,” he said of playing at the start of the fourth quarter instead of resting until the under-seven-minute timeout. “I asked for it this time. I had one day off.”
It was the second game in a row that Luka has played when he stayed in the game to start the fourth quarter. In the past, he has sat out about six minutes, then returned.
“He came by and wanted to know what we were doing, so we talked about it and we left him out there,” Kidd said. “I don’t look at the stat sheet. I don’t know if he has a triple-double or 35 points. I’m going on who’s tired, who’s making the most mistakes and how we can limit that. We’ve been playing him to start the fourth, so this is something we’re looking at going with going forward.”
To show just how unusual this game was, 13 of the Mavericks’ first 14 games had been decided by single digits. This one was never that close after the middle of the second quarter.
The Mavericks were up 73-55 at halftime. By then, Dončić already had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The recipient of most of those passes was Wood, who matched Luka’s 18 first-half points.
By then, the Mavericks already had served notice that they would not make the same mistake against a team missing its best players for a fourth time this season.
Twitter: @ESefko
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