On December 19, Beijing time, the NBA regular season was in full swing, and the Nuggets faced off against the Mavericks at home, and in this game, the Nuggets showed strong teamwork and the shining performance of individual players. In this game, the Nuggets managed to defeat the Mavericks and finally won with a big score of 130-104. It was not just a win, it was an important moment in a player's career.
At the beginning of the game, the Nuggets' Jokic and Gordon quickly launched an offense, and a wave of 5-0 offense made the Mavericks nervous. However, the Mavericks' Doncic, Jones and Powell quickly fought back to tie the score.
Jokic showed a powerful attack in the low post, and Pope's fast break was lightning fast. The Nuggets established a 28-20 lead late in the first quarter with two points from Reggie Jackson.
As the second quarter began, Hardaway Jr. immediately showed his three-point shooting skills. Doncic quickly closed the gap with his signature step-back three-pointer. Nagy's dunk under the basket stopped the bleeding for the Nuggets, but the Mavericks' three-point rain continued.
Gwee's long-range shot narrowed the score to just one point, and at the critical moment, Nagy and Braun scored under the basket one after another, and the Nuggets stabilized their position with a wave of 8-0. Strawther's three-pointer gave the Nuggets their first double-double, while Doncic hit two three-pointers from left and right after a timeout. Porter's three-pointer kept the Nuggets in a double-digit lead, and the Mavericks trailed 59-68 at halftime.
Doncic's jumper and Exum's open cut added two more points, but Jokic's back-to-back singles and Murray's long-range sniping made the Nuggets' lead more solid. Exum's flying leaf defloration showed his stellar performance again, but after the Mavericks narrowed the deficit to single digits, the Nuggets launched a 10-0 offensive run to extend the lead to more than 20 points.
Although the Mavericks found some form in the second half of the quarter, they still couldn't stop the Nuggets' momentum. After three quarters, the Mavericks trailed 80-98. At the beginning of the final quarter, the Mavericks still struggled to find the basket, and the Nuggets launched a wave of 13-4 offensive to further stretch the score away.
The Mavericks only had Doncic and Exum score in double figures, and after the Nuggets took a big lead, both sides began to send benches for practice. The Nuggets' bench lineup not only didn't drop points after coming on the court, but also extended the margin to more than 30 points. In the end, the Mavericks chased back points in the final quarter of the game to save some face, but the Nuggets finally won 130-104.
Notably, Hardaway Jr. achieved a major milestone in this game, reaching 1,543 career three-point shots, surpassing Tim Hardaway. This achievement is not only a personal honor, but also an affirmation of the pinnacle performance of his career.
Overall, this game not only showcased the Nuggets' overall teamwork and offensive and defensive performance, but also witnessed Hardaway Jr.'s brilliant moments in his career. It was undoubtedly a great game for the fans, and for the players, the win will be a memorable moment in their careers.