by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 03, 2022
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Where to watch: BSSW-DAL, ALT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Mavericks -2.5
BetMGM: Mavericks -2.5
Caesars: Mavericks -2.5
Season record
Nuggets: 18-16 (5th place, West)
Mavericks: 18-18 (8th place, West)
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Nuggets - Mavericks preview and analysis
Recent form
Nuggets: won three straight; won 124-111 at Rockets on Saturday
Mavericks: won three of four; won 95-86 at Thunder on Sunday
Luka Doncic is back, and so might be the Dallas Mavericks at this rate.
For the first time in what seems like forever, the Mavericks will have Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis playing together when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
The Mavs had their superstar make his return on Sunday in a 95-86 win on the road against the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, who did not have star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to health and safety protocols.
This was Doncic's first game since he himself was in COVID protocol, also while rehabbing an ankle injury that forced him to miss 10 games in total. Doncic played 31 minutes and was a rebound from a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while shooting 6 of 14 from the floor.
Porzingis (rest) did not play for the purpose of having him available for the tougher opponent against Denver. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Marquese Chriss had 15 points each, with Chriss needing only 14 minutes to grab seven rebounds as he began his second 10-day contract.
"It was hard. The last time I did five-on-five was like four weeks ago," Doncic said. "Weird feeling, but I'm just really happy to be back. My chest was burning. I think slowly it's going to come back. When I shot, the feeling was weird. I didn't know if it was going to go in or out. There was one shot that feels amazing, I said 'You shot it great and it's going to go in,' and it was an air ball."
The Mavericks have yet to play with a fully healthy lineup, and their record shows. They've gone 9-14 since that 9-4 start and haven't put together that signature win this season.
A shorthanded Denver team isn't signature, but given it's a back-to-back and travel involved back home, this could be as close to a good win for the Mavs if things bounce the right way.
The Nuggets have won three straight and are coming off a 13-point win on the road against the Houston Rockets. Why the Nuggets have been so good as of late is one name: Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP had multiple 20-rebound games during this run, and although he was held to just 11 against the Rockets, he had 24 points on 8 of 12 shooting in just 25 minutes.
Denver had its game against Golden State last week postponed because it didn't have enough players at the ready. Instead, the Nuggets got 22 points from Facundo Campazzo and was a key component in Denver scoring 47 points in the second quarter.
Luka Doncic is back, and so might be the Dallas Mavericks at this rate.
For the first time in what seems like forever, the Mavericks will have Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis playing together when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
The Mavs had their superstar make his return on Sunday in a 95-86 win on the road against the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, who did not have star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to health and safety protocols.
This was Doncic's first game since he himself was in COVID protocol, also while rehabbing an ankle injury that forced him to miss 10 games in total. Doncic played 31 minutes and was a rebound from a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while shooting 6 of 14 from the floor.
Porzingis (rest) did not play for the purpose of having him available for the tougher opponent against Denver. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Marquese Chriss had 15 points each, with Chriss needing only 14 minutes to grab seven rebounds as he began his second 10-day contract.
"It was hard. The last time I did five-on-five was like four weeks ago," Doncic said. "Weird feeling, but I'm just really happy to be back. My chest was burning. I think slowly it's going to come back. When I shot, the feeling was weird. I didn't know if it was going to go in or out. There was one shot that feels amazing, I said 'You shot it great and it's going to go in,' and it was an air ball."
The Mavericks have yet to play with a fully healthy lineup, and their record shows. They've gone 9-14 since that 9-4 start and haven't put together that signature win this season.
A shorthanded Denver team isn't signature, but given it's a back-to-back and travel involved back home, this could be as close to a good win for the Mavs if things bounce the right way.
The Nuggets have won three straight and are coming off a 13-point win on the road against the Houston Rockets. Why the Nuggets have been so good as of late is one name: Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP had multiple 20-rebound games during this run, and although he was held to just 11 against the Rockets, he had 24 points on 8 of 12 shooting in just 25 minutes.
Denver had its game against Golden State last week postponed because it didn't have enough players at the ready. Instead, the Nuggets got 22 points from Facundo Campazzo and was a key component in Denver scoring 47 points in the second quarter.
Prediction
At first it was surprising to see Dallas lay the 2.5 points on the SEGABABA, but Doncic gets another game to get into game shape; Porzingis will be fully rested, and the Nuggets still aren't at full strength and won't be for quite some time. The Mavs need a win and need to start stringing some together. This is the time. Mavs by 13
Betting trends
The Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in the last six off one day rest.
The Mavericks are 5-0 ATS in their last five following an ATS loss.
The under is 7-0 in the last seven following a straight-up win for the Mavericks.
Projected starting lineup
Nuggets:
PG: Facundo Campazzo
SG: Will Barton
SF: Aaron Gordon
PF: JaMychal Green
C: Nikola Jokic
SF: Aaron Gordon
PF: JaMychal Green
C: Nikola Jokic
Mavericks:
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Jalen Brunson
SF: Dorian Finney-Smith
PF: Kristaps Porzingis
C: Dwight Powell
SF: Dorian Finney-Smith
PF: Kristaps Porzingis
C: Dwight Powell
Key injuries
Nuggets: COVID -- Bones Hyland, Monte Morris, Jeff Green
Mavericks: COVID -- Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Knight, Boban Marjanovic, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Burke
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
