DALLAS – In a blockbuster league, the Nuggets missed too much and the Mavericks made the last two shots.
Luka Doncic tied it with a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left, and Kyrie Irving buried a long two on Nikola Jokic’s game at the buzzer to hand Denver a 107-105 defeat on Sunday afternoon.
The Nuggets (47-21) had erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter and led briefly when Jamal Murray drained a three with 26 seconds remaining. He missed an elbow jumper that set up the Mavericks’ final opportunity with 2.8 seconds remaining.
Sitting in the front row of the American Airlines Center, next to the ABC broadcast table, was Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback who, according to the story, should not have have the second chance to score in overtime of the Super Bowl.
The reigning NFL champion had a close view as the defending NBA champions gave up a mountain of second chances. Dallas won 21-6 on the offensive glass and outscored Denver 23-6 on second chances as the Nuggets fell a half-game behind Oklahoma City to take the Western Conference lead with 14 games remaining.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, as the Nuggets attempted to create more magic in the second unit, Luka Doncic launched a 3-pointer but chased his own rebound into the air behind the baseline, the pushing back onto an unsuspecting opponent and then out of bounds. . Dallas missed two more shots during the possession before finally scoring a fourth chance. Nuggets coach Michael Malone responded with an angry timeout, yelling at his team to get a (bleep) rebound. The deficit was 88-79.
Five Mavericks players had three or more offensive boards. Doncic scored 37 points on 27 shots.
Michael Porter Jr. paced the Nuggets for most of the day with 20 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have had rare coincidental misfires, particularly from a shot-making standpoint. They combined for 39 points on 13 of 26 shooting from the field.
They were 4 of 18 for 17 points at halftime — Jokic had two shots on three turnovers — but Denver still led 61-58. Not a team that usually excels at getting to the foul line, the Nuggets attempted 18 free throws in the half, nearly matching their per game average (19.9) for the season.
They only attempted four more free throws in the second half.
In a physical playoff-caliber game, especially from the Mavericks’ post defenders, Malone made it a point to defend Jokic late in the first quarter by parading down the court to earn a technical foul right in front Dirk Nowitzki’s pitch. seats. Reggie Jackson received a matching technique. Throughout the second, the pendulum swung and Dallas became increasingly frustrated with the calls. Derek Lively II committed his third foul before halftime.
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