Denver is working on a repeat, and Dallas is still a work in progress.

Friday night, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 125-114 to inflict their first loss of the year.

Denver’s 21-point setback in Minnesota to the Nuggets was so comprehensively managed by them that it seemed like a bizarre post-championship performance art piece about human imperfection. Dallas had to play in comeback mode after conceding 40 points in the first quarter and appeared to be on the defensive the entire time.

Leading Dallas with 34 points, Luka Doncic also committed nine turnovers, matching a career best. While all five of Denver’s starting players had good games and most had plus-minuses in the double digits, Jokic was the player who caused the most damage, packing the box score with 33/14/9.

Dallas’ first loss of the season serves as all the evidence I need to conclude that the entire In-Season Tournament concept is fraudulent.

Retained behind the boards

From beginning to end, Dallas was mainly on the outside looking in, but they did have a couple crucial possessions in the fourth that allowed them to narrow the deficit to less than ten points. Then, when they had a chance to put Denver under pressure, they would allow a vicious offensive board, which the Nuggets would use to extend the advantage to two points and win easily.

They haven’t always prevailed in the rebounding battle in their four victories to begin the season, but it has always been close. Not this evening. With 51 rebounds to Dallas’ 34, Denver outscored Dallas both offensively and defensively on the boards. Compared to Dallas’ eight second chance points, Denver had 20.

Surpasses

Known for their meticulous and plodding play, Denver is a slow squad. They have consistently been among the league’s slowest teams for years, and this season is no exception. Nevertheless, the Nuggets outplayed the Mavs in fast break points, scoring 21 to their nine. Dallas was struggling to regain control of the game, so handing up simple transition points was not helping.

Parts fitting together

Although the club’s 4-0 start was encouraging, this match highlighted the significant difference between a championship team like Denver and Dallas. The Nuggets were a well-oiled machine, having lost only seven games at home in the previous season. They were already an incredible home club. a tight nine-man rotation that has excellent role players at every position on the team. Dallas is obviously still tweaking, but it does have some positive aspects. Of the twelve players who saw action for Dallas, Oliver Maxence-Prosper and Dante Exum each saw one minute on the court, while Seth Curry saw five. Dallas was also without a head coach.

This squad still has a lot of season left to come together and find how all these new players fit, so it won’t happen right away. Dallas didn’t have the unity to push Denver tonight, but it was good to see them not just give up and concede a 20- or 30-point loss.