Dallas @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2018 ) Dallas 102, Denver 105

The Denver Nuggets put it all together on the offensive end their last time out and will try to pile up the points again when they continue a five-game homestand against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. After shooting below 50 percent in 10 straight games, the Nuggets hit 60 percent of their shot attempts in a 130-118 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday to improve to 2-1 on the homestand.

"Guys made their shots," coach Michael Malone told reporters. "The other thing we've been stressing is less play calling, more freedom of movement, more pace and just be hard to guard, like we were last year. It was pace and it was movement and it was a night where we finally made some shots consistently." Gary Harris scored 23 points and Trey Lyles had 21 on 9-of-12 shooting to pace Denver, which knocked off Dallas at home on Jan. 16 behind 29 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists by Nikola Jokic. Including that setback and another Friday night at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Mavericks are 1-5 in their last six contests. The visit to Denver begins a stretch in which Dallas plays eight of 11 on the road, where it is 6-16.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (16-33): Dirk Nowitzki will probably welcome a change of scenery after a rough homestand that left him 7-for-32 over the past four games in Dallas, compared to 25-for-45 in his last four road affairs. Harrison Barnes carried much of the load with 21 points in the 107-93 loss to Portland as Dallas committed only five turnovers but was outrebounded 54-37 and shot 39.3 percent. "They hit some hellacious shots," coach Rick Carlisle told the media. "We had a poor shot-making night and that combination can lead to problems quickly with these guys."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (25-23): Denver is 2-0 since moving struggling veteran Wilson Chandler to the bench and the shift seemed to spark the 30-year-old forward in Thursday's win. Chandler made 6-of-9 shots en route to 16 points in his best shooting effort since Jan. 3. "He's comfortable in that role," Malone told reporters. "Now, he can kind of see how the game is unfolding, come into the game and look for his role to impact it. (It's about) just kind of communicating with him, putting him in the right role and having a role that he thinks he can embrace and excel in."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Nuggets C Mason Plumlee is 11-for-13 from the field over the last two games.

2. Mavericks rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. is averaging 22.5 points on 58.8 percent shooting in two games against Denver.

3. Denver has won three straight meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 108, Mavericks 99