Nikola Jokic returns, but the Nuggets drop the NBA Cup game to the Mavericks

Nikola Jokic’s return made for outstanding theater in the NBA Cup, but the return of his alien stats wasn’t enough for Denver.

In his first game back after welcoming a newborn son this week, Jokic had 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Nuggets fell 123-120 to the Mavericks on Friday night at Ball Arena. They are 1-2 in the group stage of the second annual season tournament.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. Russell Westbrook delivered a 3-point barrage in the fourth quarter to earn the closing minutes of a 16-point outing. Peyton Watson went for 15 points, three blocks and three assists. It nearly brought Denver back from a 24-point deficit.

“You can’t ease into a game and expect to win,” coach Michael Malone said. “And now we’ve got to get on a plane and go to LA and try to get a road win. So hopefully our lesson is learned. Good half of basketball, but you don’t win in this league by playing one half.”

However, Jamal Murray’s up-and-down offensive season continued as his 10 assists were overshadowed by a 4-for-16 shooting night. He was also the defender guarding Naji Marshall when Marshall drove left for a double-double bucket with 18.8 seconds left. Marshall scored a career-high 26.

A late three by Murray cut the deficit to one, but Dallas continued to make its free throws and fouls for a three-point lead with 4.2 seconds left. Denver (8-6) never got another field goal attempt up.

The Nuggets celebrated their MVP’s return with arguably their worst first half of the season. They were outshot 61% to 42%, outscored 44-20 in the paint and rebounded 24-17. The Mavericks converted all seven shots off offensive rebounds for a 15-7 second-chance edge and turned Denver’s 11 turnovers into a 13-5 advantage in transition. Many of their paint spots were easy layups or dunks.

Murray and Porter combined for 10 points in the half. Jokic’s teammates shot a combined 10 for 30 from the floor. Four of the 10 made baskets were assisted by Jokic.

“I think a lot of guys exhaled because Nikola was back,” Malone said. “And expected superman to carry the day. And that’s not fair. Do your own work.”

The result was a 73-53 deficit that felt like it should have been worse. And then it got worse, briefly. When Dallas scored the first four points out of halftime, the Nuggets’ lifelong NBA Cup dreams appeared dead.

Their sudden reawakening can best be traced to the Porters. While Murray continued to struggle, Porter picked him up by knocking down contested 3s, scoring as a driver and as a cutter, making plays on the offensive glass and deflecting passes. It took seven minutes for Denver to put together a 27-6 run to get within one possession.

All that stood out was the inevitable reality the Nuggets had grown accustomed to over the past week: A team that has been so adept at coming from behind this season still needed to survive the minutes without Jokic. While operating in red.