Mavericks Top Nuggets 112-95, End Road Losing Streak

It's always more fun to watch a game of basketball when your team is winning. It's even more fun when they're doing so in convincing fashion. It's nearly ecstasy when it's your team's second big win in a row (fourth straight overall), and their first road win in seven games. It's mind-blowing when they manage to win without two of their best defenders and their starting center.

In case you haven't figured it out, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Denver Nuggets tonight, and they beat them soundly, 112-95. Denver had the lead when the score was 8-6 in the opening minutes, but they never got it back. Dallas shot lights out, played pesky defense, and had six players score in double figures. They had assists on 33 of their 45 baskets, and that's with Jason Kidd sitting out the entire fourth quarter (!!). Also of note, Kidd had 10 assists, four steals and zero turnovers. Tasty.

Dirk Nowitzki looked like ‘2011 WCF Dirk', hitting all kinds of ridiculously pretty shots all over the floor. He also dished the ball out with Kidd-like skills, filling his stat line out beautifully (33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists). He got himself a nice, long, well-deserved rest at the end of the game.

In fact, the lead was so cushy with two minutes to play that Yi Jianlian and Brian Cardinal and Dominique Jones were able to get some good burn on the court. Not much happened during those final moments, and the pace slowed down considerably, but it was a good feeling to look at the clock and not be nervously wringing one's hands.

This is just a taste of the game if you missed it. There will be much more analysis and fist pumping to come from your trusty editors.

Follow myself and the blog on twitter if you're not already doing so.