Green helps Nuggets go into break with 118-109 win over Mavs

DENVER (AP) —Reserve Jeff Green scored a season-high 24 points, Nikola Jokicnotched his 21st triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggetsheaded into the All-Star break with a 118-109 victory over theshort-handed Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Nikola Jokicfinished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the WesternConference-leading Nuggets, who moved to an NBA-best 27-4 at homethis season. Michael Porter Jr. hit five 3-pointers and finishedwith 22 points.

“For us tocontinue to find ways to win and have different guys step up everynight, I think it speaks to our chemistry, our depth,” Nuggetscoach Michael Malone said. “We’ve got a really good team inthere.”

Luka Doncichad 37 points in leading a banged-up Dallas team that was missingguard Kyrie Irving due to lower-back tightness. Doncic and Irvinghave played alongside each other in two games since Irving wasacquired as part of a deal with Brooklyn on Feb. 6.

The Nuggetsled by 21 in the fourth quarter, only to see the Mavericks cut itto 105-95 with 5:50 remaining on Christian Wood’s layup. Soonafter, Porter blocked a shot on one end, raced back and hit a3-pointer on the other to gain some breathing room.

Where itreally got away from the Mavs, coach Jason Kidd conceded, was inthe second, when the Nuggets broke open a one-point game with a35-19 quarter.

“You’resitting in a good place against the best team in the West and so wehave to look at doing a better job,” Kidd said.

The two teamssplit their four-game season series.

View Denveras a favorite?

“When youhave a guy like Jokic on your team, you’re the favorite,” Doncicsaid.

Jokic joinedsome exclusive company by going over 500 assists and 500 reboundsbefore the All-Star break. The other NBA players to accomplish thefeat were Russell Westbrook (three times, ’16-17, ’17-18, ’18-19)and Oscar Robertson (’61-62).

Jokic, thetwo-time reigning MVP, remains on pace to average a triple-doublethis season.

“He makes itlook like a walk in the park,” recently acquired backup centerThomas Bryant said of Jokic’s ease with triple-doubles. “It’s noteasy at all.”

Doncic’s bignight was his 65th career game with 35 or more points. Only LeBronJames had more (87) before his 24th birthday. Doncic turns 24 onFeb. 28.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: FJustin Holiday was signed Wednesday. He played in 28 games forAtlanta this season and averaged 4.5 points. ... F Davis Bertans(calf), G Tim Hardaway Jr. (hamstring) and F/C Maxi Kleber(hamstring) were inactive.

Nuggets:Denver was without guard Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation)along with forward Aaron Gordon (bruised ribs).

FRIENDLY REMINDER

Malone madesure to remind his team the All-Star break didn’t begin until 11p.m. — well after their game. They listened.

“Times havechanged, guys get their private jets running, waiting to gosomewhere,” cracked Malone, who will coach Team LeBron at theAll-Star Game.

COLORADO KID

Backup guardReggie Jackson jumped at the chance to sign with the Nuggets andplay close to home. Jackson, who grew up down the road in ColoradoSprings, agreed to a deal with Denver on Tuesday. He wasn’t inuniform against Dallas.

The32-year-old Jackson’s favorite player as a kid was ChaunceyBillups, the Denver native who went to the University of Coloradobefore embarking on a long NBA career.

Jackson willwear No. 7 with Denver — a number Billups wore in 2009 while withthe Nuggets.