The Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 112-101 on the road, securing their third consecutive victory. With a record of 23 wins and 15 losses, the Nuggets have firmly established themselves in fourth place in the Western Conference. After today's win, the gap between the Nuggets and the fifth-placed Mavericks has widened to 1.5 games. Additionally, the Nuggets are 1.5 games behind the third-placed Grizzlies and 2 games behind the Rockets. Overall, the Nuggets still have a chance to compete for second place in the West this year, as the Rockets and Grizzlies face challenging schedules ahead.
It must be said that the acquisition of Westbrook has been a success. In the games where Westbrook started, the Nuggets had a record of 13 wins and 4 losses, with a win rate of 76.5%. Since entering 2025, Westbrook has averaged an impressive 17.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8 assists, with a shooting percentage of 52%. Over the past four games, Westbrook has scored a total of 91 points, grabbed 36 rebounds, and dished out 31 assists, leading the Nuggets to a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, narrowly missing a perfect 4-0. Moreover, Westbrook excels in playing against the wind, and the Nuggets have the most come-from-behind victories this season.
What surprises the Nuggets the most is that Gordon has returned from injury, making the team whole again. Given Westbrook's current performance, Malone is reluctant to bench him. It is likely that Braun will move to the bench, and Gordon will return to the starting lineup after adjusting. This lineup features Westbrook and Murray in the backcourt, Porter at the three, and Gordon and Jokic at the four and five positions. Westbrook has proven himself suitable for the starting role and can form a strong chemistry with Jokic and Murray.
The main difference lies in Jokic and Murray's playing styles. Jokic is a versatile big man with a comprehensive shooting range. When Westbrook and Jokic play together, it can be Westbrook initiating the offense while Jokic plays the role of a blue-collar player or shoots three-pointers from the outside. Alternatively, Jokic can initiate the offense with a one-star-four-shoot strategy, with Westbrook cutting to the basket and focusing on defense. This may be where Jokic differs from Westbrook's past teammates, as opponents used to double-team the ball-handler and leave Westbrook open for threes.
Now, the Nuggets can help Westbrook break through, as Jokic's offense cannot be stopped by double-teaming alone, and he can also create space. Westbrook's decision-making in Denver is sharp; today, the Mavericks sent a center to follow him, hoping to bait him into taking threes and get him flustered. However, Westbrook only took two three-point shots, focusing instead on cutting to the basket and stealing opportunities with Jokic. The Mavericks' defense was completely torn apart by Westbrook; if they double-teamed Jokic, Westbrook faced fewer defensive challenges, allowing him to easily score with his athleticism.
Similarly, there is no conflict in playing style between Murray and Westbrook; in fact, Westbrook can even assist in Murray's defense. This season, Westbrook ranks among the league's best in limiting opponents' shooting percentages and leads the league in restricting three-point shooting. Murray is not particularly skilled in organizing but excels in finishing, which minimizes any potential ball-handling conflicts. When Jokic is off the court, Westbrook and Murray can execute perfect offensive plays at the one and two positions. Currently, Jokic carries the basic load, Westbrook charges forward, and Murray finds his rhythm in the first three quarters before becoming a game-changer in the fourth. This is why the Nuggets were able to reverse a 19-point deficit today; their rhythm wore down the Mavericks. If the Nuggets had faced the Timberwolves last season with Westbrook, he could have defended against Edwards.
The Nuggets' strategy involves falling behind early and lulling their opponents into a false sense of security. In the second half, they increase their intensity, with Jokic and Westbrook leading the charge on offense. When the game reaches a stalemate, Murray steps up to perform. This trio of Jokic, Westbrook, and Murray is indeed formidable. As Kidd mentioned after the game, they were unable to stop Westbrook, especially the energy he brought to the Nuggets. Looking at the stats, Jokic had 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Murray scored 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting, mostly in the fourth quarter. Westbrook contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks. For just a 3millionsalary,Jokic′sdecisiontosignWestbrookdespiteobjectionswasakintodrawingasuperstarcardatabargainprice.IfWestbrookcontinuestoperformatthislevel,araiseisinevitable;notnecessarilyamaxcontract,butasalaryfluctuatingbetween15 million and $20 million seems secure.