Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction & Odds (Dec. 1): Will Nikola Jokic and Denver End Their Home Skid at Ball Arena?

The Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks renew their Western Conference rivalry tonight in Denver, with both teams entering the December 1 matchup carrying very different storylines into Ball Arena. The Nuggets, sitting at 14-5 and among the conference’s early contenders, are using the visit from Dallas as an opportunity to halt a three-game home skid and reassert their dominance in front of a restless Mile High crowd.

Denver’s formula remains familiar: everything still flows through Nikola Jokic. The two-time MVP is listed as probable despite a left wrist issue, and local reports suggest there is little doubt he will suit up against Dallas, continuing his season-long trend of playing through minor knocks. His presence is central not just to Denver’s offense, but also to its league-leading work on the defensive glass, where the Nuggets rank near the top of the West in defensive rebounds per game.

On the other side, the Mavericks arrive at 6-15, struggling to keep pace in a crowded conference while integrating new pieces and battling inconsistency on both ends of the floor. Dallas has been surprisingly strong on the boards — actually ranking ahead of Denver in defensive rebounding — but that hasn’t translated into wins, particularly against Western opponents, where the Mavs are just 3-10. Tonight’s meeting offers a chance to punch above their record and steal a statement win in a building where the Nuggets rarely stay down for long.

Injury-watch drama isn’t limited to Jokic. Star big man Anthony Davis, acquired by Dallas in one of the offseason’s splashiest moves, is reportedly trending toward playing after dealing with a recent calf issue. The expectation in league circles is that Davis will be available, giving the Mavericks a badly needed interior anchor to battle Jokic and stabilize a defense that’s been hemorrhaging points during their recent slide.

Oddsmakers and analysts still see this as the Nuggets’ game to lose. Denver’s explosive attack is averaging nearly 125 points per contest, almost nine more than Dallas typically allows, and home-court advantage further tilts the scales toward the reigning champs. Pre-game projections lean heavily toward a high-scoring night for Jokic and company, with many expecting the Nuggets’ size, depth, and offensive rhythm to ultimately overwhelm a Dallas team still searching for its identity.