DALLAS It was impossible not to feel sympathetic for Nikola Jokic as he wrestled with a weight in the hallway late Wednesday night considering what hed already accomplished.

As has become customary, Jokic, along with Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley and the Nuggets strength trainers, grunted through a postgame workout that left Denvers superstar dripping in sweat when he finally met with the media following his game-winning bucket against the Mavericks.

Its always nice, Jokic said with a grin. Thats my after-game squad.

Less than half an hour earlier, Jokic was busy dominating Dallas frontcourt, bludgeoning them for 33 points, including 26 in the second half. He even buried four 3-pointers his ace in the hole, as he called his long-range weapon.

Though plenty happened throughout the first 47:52 at American Airlines Center, it was the final two possessions that sealed Denvers riveting 107-106 win. The victory was even more impressive considering the Nuggets were at the end of a taxing, 10-day road trip and without starters Paul Millsap and Will Barton.

Neither factor entered the players minds with Denver trailing 106-105 with 23 seconds left and the ball out of bounds on the sidelines.

Jamal Murray initiated the action with a tree-trunk screen on Mavericks center Dwight Powell to free up Jokic and force undersized forward Dorian Finney-Smith onto the Nuggets star. The only problem was that Jokic, who generally sees the game three steps ahead of his opponent, didnt recognize he had the mismatch.

Thats why I passed out, then I figured out that I had a mismatch, Jokic said.

That miscalculation nearly ended in disaster after Jokics pass to Murray was deflected and sent careening toward halfcourt.

Just track down the ball, Murray said laughing. He threw the ball, it went off me, so I had to go get it.

From there, Murray sent the ball back inside, where Jokic was waiting to go to work.

What Im most happy about that last possession is that we stayed with it, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. We were able to get the re-post, he took his time and scored against a smaller guy in the post. So, hes our go-to player, hes an MVP candidate for a reason. And end of the games, the ball will be in his hands to make the right play.

But the work wasnt done after Jokic dropped his right shoulder, spun and laid in his 12th bucket of the night. There were eight seconds left, and the Mavericks still had one of the most lethal playmakers in the NBA at their disposal in Luka Doncic.

Its two of the most promising young players in the entire NBA, two of the best players in the world, Malone said of the two international stars. One guy from Slovenia, one guy from Serbia, and tonight on national TV, they put all their talents on full display. Im a coach, but Im also a huge fan of the game, I love the game of basketball. I love seeing great players play.

The Mavericks took a full timeout, and the Nuggets made their defensive adjustments. Out came their two offensive stalwarts, Jokic and Murray, in came versatile defenders Torrey Craig and Mason Plumlee. Together, along with rangy forward Jerami Grant, Gary Harris and Beasley, the Nuggets suffocated Dallas final attempt.

That last play, me and (assistant) Wes (Unseld Jr.) talked, Malone said. He said, You know if you want to hit (Luka), get the ball out of his hands. I said, You tell me. And he said, Lets do it.

The Nuggets first victory on the defensive highlight came via Grant not allowing Doncic to catch the inbounds pass, costing the Mavericks several precious seconds. After Doncic finally gained possession the Nuggets swarmed him, just as their coaches had asked.

Craig and Grant trapped him, forcing an outlet to the corner, which Beasley snuffed out almost immediately. From there, with the clock winding down, Plumlee flew in to block the baseline and extinguish any window for the Mavs to shoot. With nowhere to go, Finney-Smith threw the ball into the backcourt as time expired and the entire Nuggets bench charged onto the court.

We committed to it and our guys flew around behind him and we wound up forcing a turnover to seal the win, Malone said, beaming at his teams effort.

It was a shootout, Murray said. It was our defense that won the game.

Excerpt from:
The anatomy of a thriller: How the Nuggets sealed their clutch win over the Mavs - The Denver Post