The Denver Nuggets are streaking. After a bumpy start to the season, the Nuggets have now won four games in a row and six of their last seven. The streak includes a signature win handing the Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the season. Even more impressive, the Nuggets have got on this roll while dealing with injuries to key starters Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Murray made his return to the lineup on Friday, Gordon remains out. Tonight they’ll get another quality opponent in Ball Arena with the Dallas Mavericks and perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic in town.
The Essentials
Who: Denver Nuggets (6-3) vs Dallas Mavericks (5-4)
When: 6:00 PM MST
Where: The Can. Denver, CO.
How to watch/listen: Altitude TV where available. Altitude+. NBA League Pass for those not in the Denver market. Altitude Radio 92.5FM
Rival Blog: Mavs Moneyball
The Matchup
| Position | Nuggets | Mavs | Advantage |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Kyrie Irving | Even |
| SG | Christian Braun | Luka Doncic | Mavs |
| SF | Peyton Watson | Klay Thompson | Mavs |
| PF | Michael Porter Jr. | Nnaji Marshall | Nuggets |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Daniel Gafford | Nuggets |
| Bench | Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther, Hunter Tyson, Zeke Nnaji | Dwight Powell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes | Nuggets |
Injury Report: Aaron Gordon – out (calf), Vlatko Cancar – out (ankle), DaRon Holmes II – out (achilles), PJ Hall – out (G-League), Jalen Pickett – out (G-League); Luka Doncic – questionable (groin), Maxi Kleber – doubtful (hamstring), Dereck Lively II – doubtful (shoulder), P.J. Washington – doubtful (knee), Dante Exum – out (wrist), Jazian Gortman – out (G-League)
The Three Things
The thing to watch for: Luka Doncic vs Nuggets perimeter defenders
Usually the task of covering Doncic, one of the best scorers the league has ever seen, would fall to Gordon. Without him you might think the Nuggets proverbial bacon is cooked but I’m not so sure. Peyton Watson is starting in Gordon’s place and he is probably an upgrade in terms of perimeter defense because he’s quicker and longer. He’s still big enough as well to not get bullied by Luka as is Christian Braun. He’s another solid option for the task of defending Doncic and I won’t be surprised to see both Watson and Braun get time on him to try and mix up the looks. There’s no stopping Luka entirely but I’m feeling confident given the Nuggets pair of young perimeter defenders in the starting lineup that Denver can keep the damage under control.
The thing to remember: the Mavs are wounded
Dallas is almost playing a seven man rotation right now which is very eye opening one tenth of the way into the season. The reason is they are really struggling with injuries right. Dante Exum is out still recovering from wrist surgery while Maxi Kleber, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II are all doubtful. That’s four rotation players. In lieu of getting much into their depth, the Mavericks have tightened their rotation which one has to wonder how well that will work at the altitude of Denver. The Mavs usually play the Nuggets well but with their depth so lacking I’m questioning if they can hang with Denver for the full 48 tonight. Oh, BTW, Luka is also questionable to play tonight.
The thing to bet: Christian Braun over 14.5 points (+100)
Even money on Braun scoring 15 points tonight. He’s scored more than 15 points for four straight games and six out of nine times this season. The Mavericks feature perimeter defenders Kyrie Irving, Doncic and thirty-four year old Klay Thompson. Listen, I don’t expect Christian to keep putting up 20+ on the scoreboard, but 15+ against that group of defenders? I like my chances.
