In the 12 games played since the All-Star break, the Nuggets have lost just once. Additionally, he has a better net rating than only one team in the NBA during that time (+13.3). Nikola Jokic is on the brink of winning his third NBA MVP award, and Denver reminded us that even if they don't have the best record in the NBA right now, they're still a team to beat. They will be looking for a seventh straight win against the Mavs today, and I have high hopes for their chances. Dallas has struggled mightily defensively around the basket this season, with only two teams allowing a higher field goal percentage around the rim. That sounds like a big deal when you're going up against a two-time MVP big man.
The Mavs have been able to hide most of their defensive issues by getting to the heart of their offense, and they have the third-best offensive rating after the All-Star break. It's unclear how sustainable that will be long-term, especially since Luka Doncic is currently dealing with a hamstring injury. This type of injury is the worst, can linger for months, and can really limit a player's productivity (see Tyrese Haliburton). If Luka is unavailable, Kyrie Irving may have to take over the offensive reigns. He just had 36 points and 12 assists against OKC, but the Mavs once again fell short.
Denver is 4-1 ATS/SU in its last five games and has also won both games by double digits earlier this season. We'll take Denver, a more reliable team, to cover here.
Nuggets -3.5 is available at the time of publication. You can play with that number.
