Luka Doncic vs. Nikola Jokic Round 2: MVP Implications for Dallas Mavs at Denver Nuggets?
The last time the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets met was on Nov. 3, as Nikola Jokic and the reigning NBA champs shut down Luka Doncic's squad, 125-114. Although the Mavs went into that game with a 4-0 record at the start of the season, the Nuggets were playing at home with the mile-high altitude on their side, as well as some extra motivation, as they lost their first game of the year before handing Dallas its first loss.
There are similar circumstances surrounding Monday night's rematch between these two teams, as the Mavs are winners of five of their last six games, but again, the Nuggets are playing at home and coming off a disappointing loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
We aren't even halfway through the season, but this game will big for Luka Doncic's MVP campaign. Doncic is averaging 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and a career-high 37.9 percent from deep. Despite the Mavs' several key injuries – including star point guard Kyrie Irving, who has now missed four consecutive games with a heel contusion – Doncic has kept his team rolling with a 16-9 record, good for third-place in the West.
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"Man I've played with some great players, but the game is just so easy to him," Mavs veteran forward Markieff Morris said of Doncic after he put up a 40-point triple-double in Dallas' win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
"I've never seen somebody like damn-near walk through the game. He plays the same way in practice. It's his skill. Yeah man, I don't know see why he's not No. 1 in the running for MVP. I just don't get it. Because he's carrying our team – scoring, rebounds and assists – on a nightly basis."
For Doncic to get more MVP buzz with the national media, he'll need to rack up some more wins against top-tier opponents as this season progresses, and that can start with evening the score with Jokic and getting a big road win in Denver.
"It's great. It's always fun with him,” Doncic said of playing against Jokic in early November. "Of course, he’s an amazing basketball player, but he's a great guy. That's what I love the most about him. Just always joking around. He's just a simple and very amazing man.”
Although playing in Denver is extremely tough, the Mavs have developed more chemistry between then and now, and they also currently have the league's best road record at 9-4. If Doncic is able to pull out a win in this one without Irving and breakout rookie big man Dereck Lively II, who will be out with an ankle injury he suffered on Saturday, then it will be a loud MVP statement – one that the national media will have to pay attention to.
The Mavs and Nuggets will tip off at Ball Arena at 8 p.m. CT on Monday. The game will be aired on Bally Sports Southwest and NBA TV. Denver is currently favored by 7.5 points. Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for much more gameday coverage.
