Mavericks at Nuggets: Game 79 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (47-31) at Denver Nuggets (29-49)
Fri.. Apr. 10, 8:00 at the Pepsi Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by

2014-15 Matchups
Jan. 14 at Denver
Nuggets 114 Mavs 107
Jan. 16 at Dallas
Mavs 97 Nuggets 89

All-Time Series
Mavs 81 Nuggets 76

Team Stats
Mavs
Offense: 107.0 (5th)
Defense: 103.6 (18th)
Point Differential: +2.9
Nuggets
Offense: 101.0 (22nd)
Defense: 105.1 (24th)
Point Differential: -3.7

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Nuggets
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Kenneth Faried

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 19.2
RPG: Chandler, 11.5
APG: Rondo, 6.5
PER: Stoudemire, 21.9
Win Shares: Chandler, 9.7
Nuggets
PPG: Lawson, 15.4
RPG: Faried, 8.8
APG: Lawson, 9.5
PER: Lawson, 18.7
Win Shares: Lawson, 7.0

Of Note

• Chandler Parsons will miss his third straight game with knee soreness. The team hopes he can return to play in the last couple regular season games.
• The teams split back-to-back meetings in January, each winning at home. In the loss in Denver Dirk, Chandler and Rondo all sat on the second night of a back-to-back.
• Dirk has scored at least 18 points in five straight games for the first time all season. 
• In his last four games, Tyson Chandler has averaged 11.0 points and 13.5 rebounds and shot 72% from the field.
• A 3-1 finish would give the Mavs their first 50 win season since 2011. They fell one game short of the mark last year. The franchise won at least 50 games in 11 straight seasons from 2001 to 2011.