Jason Kidd emphasized the early nature of playoff discussions as the Dallas Mavericks faced the Denver Nuggets in a crucial home-and-home series. Despite starting strong with a 19-point lead, the Mavericks succumbed to a 112-101 defeat. The team's struggles were evident in the fourth quarter, where they failed to hit any 3-point shots and managed only 12 points.
The Nuggets, buoyed by a 41-point second quarter, capitalized on Dallas' shooting slump. Klay Thompson emerged as a standout for the Mavericks, scoring 25 points and reaching the milestone of 16,000 career points.
Despite Thompson's efforts, Dallas was out-rebounded and could not overcome the Nuggets' late-game surge. The absence of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving was notably felt, as the Mavericks seek to bounce back in the next matchup.
