Nuggets on rise ahead of rematch with Mavs

DENVER -- The Dallas Mavericks handed the Denver Nuggets their most frustrating loss a week ago.

While it hurt at the time, it might have been the turning point for Denver's still-young season. Since that 112-92 defeat in Dallas on Dec. 12, the Nuggets (11-16) won two straight while averaging 129.5 points a game.

A return to full health is a big reason, and so is a change in the starting lineup. Coach Michael Malone moved Wilson Chandler into the power forward spot and shifted Nikola Jokic to center, bumping Jusuf Nurkic to the bench.

The results are undeniable, although it is just two games into the new look.

"I like what I see, but I'm by no means happy on the farm thinking we've got it all figured out, let's make reservations for the playoffs," Malone said after the Nuggets' 127-114 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday. "It's two games, it's a small sample size, but I like what I've seen."

It is a big change from how he was feeling following the contest in Dallas last week. Losing by 20 to the Mavericks a few years ago was nothing to be angry about, but these Mavericks are in last place in the Western Conference. Denver wasn't competitive in the game.

"You can just throw this one out of the window," Nuggets point guard Emmanuel Mudiay said. "We played horrible. Our defense wasn't there. ... Give them credit, though. They made a lot of shots. We got to let this one go and try to move forward in a positive way."

For now, the problem seems to be solved. Denver's offense is moving the ball and hitting shots, and the defense is doing enough to win.

The wins have been few and far between for Dallas (7-20), in large part because of injuries. Dirk Nowitzki has played just five games this season because of a right Achilles strain. J.J. Berea (left calf strain) has played six games, and Andrew Bogut (right knee) has missed 11 games.

The good news is Dallas may get all of them back by the start of 2017, which would make a big difference. The Mavericks have lost 11 games by 10 or fewer points, showing they are in games but don't have the weapons to close them out.

"There's just stretches where we just can't score and we get in trouble," Nowitzki told The Dallas Morning News. "I think our defense is solid. Once we get all our offensive weapons back, we should be fine."

They were fine Sunday in a 99-79 win over the Sacramento Kings. Six Dallas players scored in double figures, with guard Devin Harris contributing 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists off the bench.

Dallas will need that kind of production if it wants to beat the Nuggets for the second time in eight days. Denver is firing on all cylinders offensively, and with the points coming from everywhere, it is hard to pick one player to stop.

"We've just got to keep this going," said Nuggets guard Gary Harris, who had 16 points against New York, his second game back from a foot injury. "I like the energy we're playing with on both ends of the floor. We're having fun."