2024 NBA Cup Odds: Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets Picks and Expert Analysis

The second game of an NBA on ESPN doubleheader on Friday night features the past two Western Conference champions facing off as Dallas visits Denver.

However, Mavs superstar Luka Doncic is out and Nuggets superstar and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic might be as well. Needless to say, the NBA odds are in flux for the NBA Cup matchup.

Dallas Mavericks Cup Line +118

The Mavs have followed a four-game skid with three straight wins after trashing short-handed New Orleans 132-91 on Tuesday. Luka Doncic, who missed his first game of the season in Dallas’ win at Oklahoma City on Sunday due to a knee injury, returned to the lineup and had a game-high 26 points. He shot 10 of 16 overall and 3 for 8 from 3-point distance. Doncic hit a pair of step-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter giving Dallas a 111-75 lead.

Indeed, it was a dominant performance by the Mavs, who shot 52.7 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from three-point land (14-of-31). In racking up their largest margin of victory this season, the Mavs won for the third straight game and were so impressive that the 30 minutes Doncic played were the most by any of their players.

Luka Doncic

“I think we’re just playing the right way, playing defense, playing with pace, and that’s getting into better starts,” said Doncic. “We know we can do it, and we just got to keep it going.”

However, Doncic strained his right wrist in the win and will miss at least one week. The five-time NBA All-Star is averaging 28.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists through 14 games. He’s shooting 43.5 percent from the field, the second-lowest mark of his career. Doncic returned to the lineup against the Pelicans after missing his first game of the season Sunday due to a right knee bruise.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has sustained a wrist injury and is expected to miss time, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QxZuKaDyAl

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2024

Klay Thompson

Thompson finished with 19 points in Tuesday’s win, hitting 5-for-9 from deep. Although he remains one of the most proven perimeter scorers in the league, Thompson has struggled to find any consistency since arriving in Dallas. Across 15 games, he is averaging 14.0 points and 3.1 three-pointers per game. Kyrie Irving added 18 points and seven assists.

Jason Kidd

“He’s shooting the three at a very high level,” Mavs coach Kidd said of Irving, who was 4-for-5 from deep. “He might be the only one shooting the three at a decent clip, and we’ve got to get the rest of them going.”

In addition, the Mavs’ bench outscored their Pelican counterparts, 56-28, and outrebounded them by a 25-11 margin. Dallas’ reserves also had more assists (9-7) and more steals (5-4) than New Orleans’ reserves. As a whole, the Mavs’ bench players were 21-of-37 from the field for 56.8 percent, while the Pelicans’ bench players were 10-of-27 from the floor. That Dallas bench was led by Naji Marshall (15 points, three steals), Quentin Grimes (12 points, eight rebounds), Daniel Gafford (11 points, six rebounds) and Jaden Hardy (11 points).

Denver Nuggets Cup Line -145

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets missed Tuesday night’s 122-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the third straight game he missed for personal reasons. Reportedly, he’s in Serbia as his wife had a baby. Jokic leads the Nuggets in points (29.7), rebounds (13.7) and assists (11.7). Denver had lost the past two games — against New Orleans and Memphis — without Jokic before winning Tuesday.

Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Mavericks:

QUESTIONABLE:
Nikola Jokić (Personal Reasons)

OUT:
Aaron Gordon (Right Calf Strain)
DaRon Holmes II (Right Achilles Tendon Repair)
Vlatko Čančar (Left Knee Sprain)#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/zRRUqtMiMT

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 22, 2024

Michael Malone

Coach Malone was noncommittal about whether Jokic would be available for Friday, but he wasn’t at practice on Thursday. In addition to Jokic, Denver is playing without forward Aaron Gordon, another key piece to the Nuggets’ offense.

“We shouldn’t play in a different way,” Malone said of not having Jokic. “Obviously, you don’t have a three-time MVP. I think we have to play harder. That should be with Nikola or without Nikola. I think we have to play more physical.”

Russell Westbrook

Denver guard Westbrook posted the 200th triple-double of his career in Tuesday’s win. The 36-year-old Westbrook finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, and it took him until the final minutes to accomplish the feat. With 1:28 left, Westbrook was one rebound shy when center Dario Saric missed a 3-pointer. Westbrook grabbed his only offensive rebound of the game.

Westbrook is 19 triple-doubles ahead of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, and 62 in front of Magic Johnson. His teammate — Jokic — is fourth with 136, followed by LeBron James at 117.

“It’s a blessing,” Westbrook said of reaching the milestone. “I’m truly grateful to be able to play the game [well enough] to do that. But I’m also appreciative of the ones who came before me.”

Jamal Murray

Murray has been struggling this season but broke out Tuesday with 27 points (10-of-20 FGs), four rebounds, six assists, three steals, two blocks and five 3-pointers. It hasn’t been an easy six months for Murray. He had a difficult Olympics with Team Canada. He had a slow recovery from a calf strain. He’s faced criticism and scrutiny concerning his play to start this season. Murray is averaging 18.3 points per game, which would be his lowest average since the 2018-19 season. He’s shooting 41 percent from the field, which would be his lowest since his rookie season, 2016-17. He’s shooting 33.4 percent from 3-point range, which would be the lowest of his career.

“I take full accountability,” Murray said. “It’s not easy when you aren’t playing well. It hasn’t been easy with guys like Nikola and Aaron (Gordon) out. We were fully capable of winning these last games. But, for me, I have to play better. I have to take account for that. It starts with me.”

Vlatko Cancar

Reserve forward Cancar exited Tuesday’s game in the second quarter due to a left knee sprain and didn’t return. It’s the same knee in which he tore his ACL last summer. Prior to the injury, Cancar had scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes of action.

How to Watch and Bet NBA Cup Odds

When: Friday, 10 PM ET
Where: Ball Arena
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+

Mavericks vs Nuggets Last Meeting

These teams met on Nov. 10 also in Denver and the Nuggets won 122-120. Michael Porter Jr. hit a mid-range jumper with seven seconds left for the win. Nikola Jokic had 37 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists, while Jamal Murray had 18 points and Porter finished with 17. Kyrie Irving had a season-high 43 points for Dallas. Luka Doncic added 24 points and Daniel Gafford had 16. Irving’s bank shot gave Dallas a 120-118 lead with 1:39 left but Jokic then had a tying tip-in and ahead of Porter’s winning shot. Irving missed a 3-point try at the buzzer. The Mavericks lead the Nuggets in the all-time series, 96-93 (.508) and hold a record of 61-32 at home and 36-61 on the road.

Friday’s #EmiratesNBACup 8-game slate!

🏆 Steph, #1 in the West Warriors seek 3-0 Group Play record, visit Pelicans
🏆 Tatum, Celtics seek 4th consecutive victory, take on Wizards
🏆 Sengun, Rockets look for 7th win in 8 games, host Trail Blazers
🏆 East Group C leading Hawks… pic.twitter.com/AhFSUH5fWw

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2024

NBA Betting Center

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