Mavericks Display Strong Character In Narrow Victory Against Nuggets In NBA Cup Match

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Jason Kidd praised the Dallas Mavericks for their resilience in a tight victory over the Denver Nuggets. Despite missing Luka Doncic and facing a triple-double from Nikola Jokic, the Mavericks secured a 123-120 win in Friday's NBA Cup match. This marked their third consecutive game with seven players scoring in double figures.

The Mavericks seemed to be cruising with a 24-point lead early in the third quarter. However, the Nuggets responded with a fierce 28-9 run, narrowing the gap before the final quarter. Yet, Dallas maintained composure to clinch their fourth straight win.

Kidd highlighted his team's character and defensive efforts, saying, "We were here 10 days ago, we learned from that situation, we kept our composure. This group stayed together." He noted that they made crucial stops defensively and executed big plays offensively.

Reflecting on past experiences, Kidd added, "We didn't finish the game 10 days ago. But the guys stepped up. Defensively, we did what we had to do." The team focused on correcting small mistakes from previous encounters.

Playing without Luka Doncic on the road presented challenges. Kidd acknowledged this by stating, "Again without Luka, on the road, we were just in this situation in Oklahoma City." He emphasized that games are too close to allow late mistakes.

The victory improved Dallas' record to 9-7 and boosted their standing in West Group C of the NBA Cup. They now stand at 2-1 in group play, trailing only Golden State Warriors who are undefeated at 3-0 after defeating New Orleans Pelicans.

Naji Marshall's Career Night

Naji Marshall delivered an outstanding performance off the bench with a career-high of 26 points. After contributing significantly against the Pelicans earlier in the week, he continued his form by scoring 16 points in Friday's first half alone.

Kidd commended Marshall's contributions: "Just the trust. Marshall was playing extremely well for us." He highlighted Marshall's clutch floater with one second left on the shot clock as a testament to his confidence and trust from teammates.

This season has seen Dallas face injuries but embrace a 'next man up' mentality. Kidd remarked on this adaptability: "This team has a lot of character, a lot of trust and we're becoming a team - it's still early in the season."