It’s going to get wild in the West as the match between the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks goes underway. Catch the game live at 11:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
Denver is home to one of the top MVP contenders this year. Nikola Jokic has been having a stellar season with averages of 27.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. His quiet night in the All-Star Game may have given him the rest he needs to come back even stronger for the second half of the season.
However, fans are currently aching to see another player perform aside from Jokic.
All eyes are on Jamal Murray who is finally getting back into rhythm after a slow start to the season. His steady incline helped the Nuggets grab six of their last seven games, including an ongoing 5-game winning streak.
If you still aren’t convinced that Murray has been improving, then compare these two statistics. In the first 10 games he played, he averaged 21.4 points per game, including two games where he scored only nine points. In the last 10, he’s been scoring an average of 29.5 points a night, including a career-best 50-point performance.
It’s safe to say that when his team is healthy and Murray is effectively playing by his side, Jokic would be carrying a lighter load for the remainder of the season. If the Nuggets keep playing this way, then the team might just make another historic run in the playoffs.
Another team that’s trying to make a strong push for the playoffs is Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks.
Coming off their stellar performance against the Spurs, Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Porzingis, who has been the topic of many trade rumors, has been shutting down his critics. His double-double of 28 points and 14 rebounds against the Spurs showed Mavericks fans that he is doing all he can for his team. Doncic, meanwhile, delivered 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Their late 17-4 run showed that Dallas is capable of taking over in the endgame.
Unfortunately, the team couldn’t keep their streak alive against the OKC Thunder with KP and Luka out. Both did not play due to minor injuries but are expected to return for their match against the Nuggets.
Overall, both teams desperately need to improve their positioning in the Western Conference. A win tomorrow could mean a spot or two above their current rank, which will be big as the regular season winds down.
After a tight one-point victory over the Grizzlies, the Nuggets are looking to secure their sixth straight win when they host Luka Doncic's Mavericks.
