Luka Doncic is back after missing ten games due to an ankle injury and health and safety protocols, and on Monday against the Denver Nuggets, he did not disappoint
Doncic, who returned on Sunday in team’s win over the Thunder, led the Mavericks with 21 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds; Dwight Powell and Reggie Bullock added 15 points apiece as Dallas defeated the Nuggets 103-89 to win their third straight.
Dallas had six players in double figures, including all five starters.
Dallas took a six-point lead into the fourth, and took control in the final period as they had their largest lead of 17 points.
“They have a great team,” Doncic said about the Nuggets. “They have [Nikola] Jokić, who is the MVP. They’re going to make a run. It’s not happening that they’re not going to make a run. We stayed together and just played our basketball.”
Doncic is slowly working his way back from COVID, and he believes that he will get better over time.
“Every game is going to be better, especially physically, with the way the game is played, five-on-five,” Doncic said. “But I think it’s going to come with the games, and every game is going to be better.”
On Wednesday, the Mavericks host the Golden State Warriors, and they will retire Dirk Nowitzki’s number 41 jersey. After defeating the Nuggets, Doncic, who grew up in Slovenia, discussed Nowitzki.
“I mean, he deserves [the recognition] and everything else that happens,” Doncic said. “You know, he gave so much to Dallas, and Dallas gave back to him. I was talking before, he did a lot of things – not just for people from Europe, but I think also in the United States. Everybody has the highest respect for him, the highest everything. They just enjoy watching him play – in Europe too. Especially the kids, they grow up in Europe, and they know Dirk [Nowitzki]. Everybody in Europe followed Dirk, so he’s got respect from everybody.”
