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Preview: Denver Nuggets try to lasso in Mavericks

By Asher Levy

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 06: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Ball Arena on December 6, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 06: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Ball Arena on December 6, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets are riding high off of a great win on the road over the Miami Heat and now look to continue their momentum into the All-Star break with a game against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks themselves have been stumbling a slight bit since the Kyrie Irving trade, losing their last two games after winning the first two in which Kyrie played.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have looked good in the games they’ve played together, but the rest of the team has been a little lacking. It’s likely not a huge deal, but they will be hungry looking for their first win together against Denver. This will be coming in a game where the Denver Nuggets will find themselves shorthanded – Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are both questionable, and Zeke Nnaji is out tonight.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, while considered questionable, are probably not going to play tonight. It doesn’t make much sense to play them in one game before the All-Star break. It makes much more sense to let them get their rest, and have them back at full strength after they’ve had a good chance to recover fully from any lingering or nagging injury problems.

Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting tonight if Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon end up missing tonight’s contest, but they’ve done a fine job of that as of late. In their last two games, they’ve missed both Gordon and Murray but have come out on top in both of them. The Nuggets have enough talent to beat any team on any given night as long as Nikola Jokic plays.

The Reggie Jackson signing was also made official in the early morning hours today. However, don’t expect him to suit up until after the All-Star break has come and gone. He’s not slated to be active tonight, and that will give him the time to learn the offense, defense, and practice a bit with the team before being expected to make a big impact.

Who, When, Where, Etc.

Who: Denver Nuggets (40-18, 26-4 home) vs Dallas Mavericks (31-28, 12-18 away)

Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

When: 7:00 PM MST

Injuries:

DEN – Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) QUESTIONABLE, Aaron Gordon (left rib contusion) QUESTIONABLE, Zeke Nnaji (right shoulder sprain) OUT

DAL – Kyrie Irving (lower back tightness) PROBABLE, Reggie Bullock (non-COVID illness) QUESTIONABLE, Christian Wood (non-COVID illness) QUESTIONABLE, Tim Hardaway Jr. (right hamstring tightness) QUESTIONABLE, Davis Bertans (left calf strain) OUT, Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) OUT

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