Dallas @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2017 ) Denver 105, Dallas 122

The Denver Nuggets have fallen into a rut with four defeats in the past five games and they look for a turnaround when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. The Nuggets were punished badly by the San Antonio Spurs when they suffered a 112-80 setback on Saturday.

Denver's four losses during the stretch are by an average of 15.8 points and coach Michael Malone is trying to keep the squad's spirits intact. "Every team experiences the ups and downs," Malone told reporters. "The most important thing for us is how do we handle it and how do we react? Don't become too emotional. Don't become over-reactive and (proclaim) 'the sky is falling' and panic." Dallas has bigger troubles with four defeats in the past six games while spending the first half of the season as one of the worst teams in the NBA. The Mavericks suffered a 107-101 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the sixth consecutive defeat in which they have allowed 100 or more points.

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

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (15-29): Rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. scored 23 points in the loss to the Lakers and has eight straight double-digit outings, including three of at least 20 points. Smith, the ninth overall pick in the draft, frustrated No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball on Saturday by limiting him to nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. "Where I want to go is I want to be the best point guard (in the NBA)," Smith told reporters. "I've played against almost every point guard who is regarded as the best in the league. Now I see where they're at. I understand the work they've put in."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (22-21): Denver's defense had no answers for slowing down San Antonio, which made 14-of-27 3-pointers and scored 30 or more points in two separate quarters. "They're not stopping, they're just moving and moving," Nuggets center Nikola Jokic told reporters while describing the team's struggles against the Spurs. "Every cut is a live cut, every pass is a live pass, every shot. They're doing the small things so good that you believe they are really going to do it." Jokic produced 23 points and nine rebounds while narrowly missing his 15th double-double of the campaign.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets have won seven of their last nine home games against the Mavericks.

2. Denver SG Gary Harris (family matter) scored 18 points against the Spurs after missing the previous game.

3. Dallas G Yogi Ferrell was 1-of-10 from 3-point range against the Lakers after being 7-of-10 one game earlier against the Charlotte Hornets.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 99, Mavericks 94