The Dallas Mavericks just didn’t measure up in this measuring stick game. The advanced stats will tell you the same story as the ones in the box score after Friday’s 125-114 loss against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
Both teams had reason for optimism coming into the In-Season Tournament opener, but at the end of the night, it was clear: The Nuggets are a well-oiled machine, and the Mavericks are getting better, but still searching for ways to become that team.
After building a 16-point lead in the first quarter, Denver put it in cruise control against Dallas and held off a late, half-cooked Mavericks comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.