On January 13th, Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets made a remarkable 19-point comeback against the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA regular season game. Nikola Jokic finished the game with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists on 6-of-13 shooting. Russell Westbrook contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10-of-17 shooting. The Nuggets' double MVP combination combined for 40 points, 28 rebounds, and 16 assists, leading the team to their third consecutive victory and maintaining their position as fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 23 wins and 15 losses.
In the first quarter, Jokic played all 12 minutes, scoring 7 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists on 3-of-7 shooting. However, the Nuggets started the game trailing by 16 points at 3-19 and were consistently suppressed throughout the quarter. They ended the first quarter down by 15 points with a score of 17-32. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-6 in three-point attempts, while the Mavericks shot an impressive 5-of-7 from three-point range.
In the second quarter, the Nuggets turned up the heat, outscoring the Mavericks 41-29 and clawing back 12 points. Westbrook displayed his aggressive playstyle with multiple fast-break layups, and at halftime, the Nuggets were only down by 3 points. Jokic had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists at the half, while Westbrook had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The third quarter saw the Nuggets and Mavericks engage in a seesaw battle. However, the Nuggets experienced a power outage, allowing Klay Thompson to lead the Mavericks on a 15-0 scoring run, putting the Nuggets down by 19 points. Jokic then led a charge, reducing the deficit to 10 points with a 10-1 run to end the quarter. In this quarter, Thompson scored 11 points, while Jokic added 4 points and 6 rebounds on 1-of-2 shooting. During this period, Jokic suffered a hand injury that caused his jersey to be stained with blood, forcing him to change jerseys before continuing the game.
In the final quarter, the Nuggets mounted a 14-3 run to take the lead. Jokic delivered key assists in the clutch, and his chemistry with Westbrook was evident as they sealed the victory with a dominant 31-12 quarter.
So far this season, when Westbrook starts, the Nuggets have a record of 13 wins and 4 losses, boasting a win rate of 76.7%. After the game, Westbrook was named the team's best defensive player, and Malone presented him with a large gold chain.
Regarding Westbrook's performance, Kidd commented post-game: "He played incredibly well. Throughout his career, he has relied on his energy and effort to achieve this level. He is fully focused on the game every day and performs at an extremely high standard. Currently, he is delivering high-level basketball performances as a starter."