Jokic hit a falling, one-handed shot as time expired to lift the Nuggets over the weary Mavericks 100-99.

The big man rescued Denver after the Nuggets trailed by 12 early in the fourth quarter. Jokic finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, hitting all four of his field goals in the fourth — including the game-winner.

„That’s what we need him to do. He’s been doing it for us all year,“ teammate Paul Millsap said. „He’s got my vote for MVP, for sure.“

Doncic led Dallas with 24 points. He had a go-ahead dunk with 5.8 seconds left and was fouled, but missed a free throw that would have put the Mavericks up by two.

„I should have made that free throw,“ Doncic said. „I feel like I let my team down.“

Denver called a timeout and drew up a play for Jokic. He drove to the right of Dwight Powell, stopped and thought about a fadeaway, but the shot wasn’t there.

„I felt like he was going to block it, so I just go to the right hand and throw it somehow. And the ball went in,“ Jokic said. „Powell played really good defense. He was right there but I made a lucky shot.“

ESPN