NBA highlights on Nov. 3: Doncic is a superstar, but Jokic is a winner

The Denver Nuggets beat the Dallas Mavericks 125-114 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, putting away the final undefeated record in the Western Conference. This contest was the first NBA in-season tournament game by either side and counted as a regular season competition as well.

As the aces of the two sides, Nikola Jokic was one assist away from dropping a triple-double for the Nuggets with 33 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists while Luka Doncic got 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but with nine turnovers. Moreover, Jokic shot 14-for-16 from the field while Doncic missed 13 of his 24 shots.

One main reason behind the differences in the two players' performances was the different defense they faced. The Mavericks were nearly oversensitive in double-teaming Jokic, but he still managed to seize the small window to pass to open teammates both from inside and outside. Furthermore, both Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon did excellent jobs in playmaking with 13 and six assists respectively.

Meanwhile, Jokic's solid finishing ability enabled him to make shots anywhere he received the ball, not to mention that he also grabbed seven offensive rebounds. The Nuggets dominated the offensive glass with a total of 19 offensive rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. also contributed five of them.

The Nuggets made Doncic struggle but not via constant double-teaming, which only happened when he posted up deep. The team have two big-size forwards, Gordon and Porter Jr., to slow Doncic down without having to ask for help. When Doncic was driven to the baseline, extra defenders would come to shut him down or cut his passes to teammates.

Twenty-two of Doncic's 34 points were scored in the second half, counting on his unreasonable 3-point shooting touch, but that was unsustainable and too predictable. He still hasn't developed a workable off-ball offensive skillset. Neither does Kyrie Irving nor any other on the Mavericks' roster has the orchestrating skill of Murray.

Other games on Friday (away teams come first):

New York Knicks 105-110 Milwaukee Bucks

It's a mystery why the Bucks nearly blew a game in which they went 20-for-39 behind the arc at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Giannis Antetokounmpo made six of his 10 field goals (FGs), including shooting 3-for-3 at the 3-point line, but he also committed seven turnovers. He managed to draw a 3-point foul in the fourth quarter, but missed all three free throws when the Knicks already cut their deficit to four points (99-95).

Fortunately for the Bucks, they had Damian Lillard to save the day. He went to the free throw line eight times in the fourth period alone and made all of those shots. After Jalen Brunson drained a triple to get his 43rd point and place the Knicks on a two-point lead (103-101) when there was only one minute and 10 seconds left, Lillard immediately replied a 3-pointer and then a 3-point play by charging the rim. In the end, it was the two freer throws he made in the final six seconds that sealed the deal for the Bucks.

Brunson again showed his offensive power of attacking the opponents' back-court defensive liability by shooting 15-for-22 within the triple line. Having got 45 points, he outscored the other four starters of the Knicks by six points.

Golden State Warriors 141-139 Oklahoma City Thunder

Though the Thunder missed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because of a knee injury, they fought the Warriors until the final second at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and made Stephen Curry drain a 0.2 second layup to secure victory.

The score reached a draw at 139 after Luguentz Dort went 1-for-2 at the free throw line. With 16.4 seconds left, Curry received the ball at the right wing and faced Dort. He dribbled until there were four seconds left to break into the paint and shot a finger roll over the block of Chet Holmgren. The ball went into the basket, but Draymond Green and Josh Giddey made the play controversial by touching the iron and the net respectively.

After review, the referee ruled that Giddey touched the net earlier than Green touched the rim. Therefore, the shot counted for Curry. This was the second straight time for the Warriors to win on a 0.2-second game-winner.

Cleveland Cavaliers 116-121 Indiana Pacers

Washington Wizards 114-121 Miami Heat

Brooklyn Nets 109-107 Chicago Bulls

Memphis Grizzlies 113-115 Portland Trail Blazers