The Mavericks nearly survived flight delays and a Bomb Cyclone, yet they were helpless against Nikola Jokic’s game-winner.
Jokic awoke from a three-quarter slumber, poured in his only four baskets of the game, and the Nuggets survived 100-99 on an improbable, fading one-handed turnaround at the buzzer.
Denver entered the fourth quarter down 10 points before they slowly chipped away, first on the defensive end and then with Jokic in the post. The Nuggets held the Mavericks to just 10 fourth-quarter points and got a season-high 33 from veteran forward Paul Millsap. A ferocious dunk from Dallas’ sensational rookie Luka Doncic nearly gave the Mavericks the game, putting them up 99-98 with only seconds remaining.