GameDay: Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets
Mavericks at Nuggets
8 p.m., Pepsi Center, Denver
TV: FSSWRadio: ESPN/103.3 FM, ESPN/1540 AM (Sp.)
Records: Mavs 47-31; Nuggets 29-49
About the Mavs: Because they’re already locked into the Western Conference’s No. 7 playoff seed, the only significant thing the Mavs have to play for is to reach 50 victories. But they have to decide if winning 50 games trumps getting their players healthy and rested for the playoffs. ... This is the opener of a three-game road trip, all against teams that won’t qualify for the playoffs. The Mavs play at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and finish the last road trip of the season Monday night in Utah before ending the regular season Wednesday at home against Portland. ... The Mavs snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday when they outlasted the Phoenix Suns 107-104 behind 12 points and 23 rebounds from Tyson Chandler.
About the Nuggets: Denver has dropped eight of its last 11 games but snapped a four-game losing streak with Wednesday’s 119-101 win over the LA Lakers. Kenneth Faried contributed a season-high 29 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals, and Danilo Gallinari added 27 points while converting 7-of-14 shots from 3-point range. ... The Nuggets are 1-1 against the Mavs this season. Ty Lawson had 29 points and 12 assists when the Nuggets defeated the Mavs in Denver 114-107 on Jan. 14. ... Two days later in Dallas, the Mavs returned the favor and beat the Nuggets 97-89. ... Lawson averages 15.4 points and is third in the NBA in assists at 9.5 per game. Faried averages 12.3 points and 8.8 rebounds.
— Dwain Price
This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 10:06 PM with the headline "GameDay: Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets."