Nuggets (25-11) at Mavericks (23-13)
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: FSSW/ESPN
Radio: ESPN, 103.3 FM, Univision, 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: They are 2-1 on the home stand that gets significantly more challenging with tonight’s game. The Nuggets, Lakers and Sixers have a combined 79-32 record . . . That those three opponents come in the span of four nights makes it that much more taxing . . . They already have a win over the Nuggets this season, having collected a 109-106 win in late October. In that game, Luka Doncic had one of his worst outings of the season (12 points, 3-of-12 shooting). But the Mavericks had five players off the bench (and a franchise-record tying nine overall) score in double figures to pull out the win . . . The Mavericks lost all three meetings to the Nuggets last season, including their only visit to AAC . . . Since returning from an ankle injury seven games ago, Luka Doncic is averaging 31 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game . . . Coach Rick Carlisle has done a strong job of managing minutes through almost half a season. Eight Mavericks are averaging over 20 minutes per game and three more put in 15 minutes or more per game played . . . Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness) will miss his fifth consecutive game.
About the Nuggets: This is the finale of a five-game road trip, on which they are 2-2 so far, including Monday’s 123-115 win at Atlanta . . . Nikola Jokic had a career-best 47 points against the Hawks, along with eight rebounds and five assists . . . The Nuggets spread the scoring around with five players averaging more than 11 points per game, led by Jokic at 18.9 points per game . . . The Nuggets make their living on the defensive end, limiting opponents to 105.2 points per game (fifth lowest in the league) and they are No. 1 in the NBA at running opponents off the three-point line (32.7 percent) . . . Another key tonight will be keeping the Nuggets off the boards. They are No. 1 in the league at offensive rebounding percentage, grabbing one out of every four shots that they miss . . . They have been getting strong play from rookie reserve forward Michael Porter Jr. recently as he is averaging 12.2 points and shooting 44 percent from 3-point range in the past six games . . . Forward Paul Millsap has been fighting a left knee contusion, but has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game.
Twitter: @ESefko
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