DENVER _ For the first time this season, the Mavericks had all of the members of their backcourt available for a game Monday against the Nuggets.
Amazing what having all your resources can do for a team.
The Mavericks weren't perfect. Not even close, especially on the defensive end in a 117-107 loss to Denver.
But in the first half, when J.J. Barea was back on the court for the first time since injuring his right calf in Boston on Nov. 16 (17 games missed), they looked like a different team.
Like one that could actually score a lot of points.
Barea was limited to the first half only, and he was a force in his 13 minutes on the floor. He had 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal. More important, the Mavericks were plus-10 when he was on the court for just 5:48 in the first quarter.
The Mavericks were up by three points at that point. And while they eventually led by as much as 16 points, they couldn't keep pace with the rapid-fire Nuggets, who took charge in the third quarter when big man Nikola Jokic asserted himself. He was heading toward a triple-double by the end of the third quarter but couldn't quite get there, finishing with 27 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.
The question was whether the Mavericks could keep it competitive enough to force Denver to play its top players down the stretch.
With Seth Curry and Harrison Barnes contributing, the Mavericks were within 93-85 going into the fourth quarter of this defense-optional game.
The Mavericks had beaten the Nuggets by 20 last week in Dallas. The rematch was more competitive throughout. They had given up 27 points and 11 rebounds to Jokic in the first meeting.
He was even more dominant Monday as he feasted on the Mavericks, who may have missed Andrew Bogut in this game more than any other.
Before the game, Rick Carlisle was asked how the Mavericks could cope better with Jokic.
"We've got to keep him off the boards," he said. "How tall do they say he is? 6-11? Well, that's bull ...
"He's probably like 7-4. His arms are crazy long."
With Jokic leading a strong Denver rebounding night, the Mavericks couldn't make much progress in the fourth quarter. When Wilson Chandler hit a jumper with 5:08 to go, the Nuggets were up 105-94, and the Mavericks needed a spark.
They got it when Barnes scored and Wesley Matthews nailed a 3-pointer to make it 105-99 with 4:17 left. They would get no closer. When Jokic got his ninth assist with a baseball pass to Chandler for a layup, the Nuggets were back up 113-101 with two minutes to go.
All five Nuggets starters scored 14 points or more.
The Mavericks were going for their second win in a row, something they've accomplished only one other time this season.
But it already felt like a victory in the respect that Barea was back.
Before he went out, Barea was averaging 16.3 points and 5.4 assists while shooting better than 38-percent from 3-point land.
Nothing much changed when he came back. Wearing an extra sleeve to keep his left calf sturdy, Barea hit 5-of-9 shots and one of his two 3-pointers.
Best of all, he appeared to have no limitations in his movement.
"We'll just play the first half tonight and then see how it goes from there," Barea had said before the game. "I'm just glad to be back."
It's another step toward the Mavericks becoming a whole team again.
Next up, they hope, is Nowitzki, who could be back before Jan. 1.
