The return of Nikola Jokic provided excellent theater in the NBA Cup, but the return of his otherworldly stats wasn’t enough for Denver.

In his first game back after welcoming a newborn son this week, Jokic scored 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Nuggets fell 123-120 to the Mavericks on Friday night at Ball Arena. They are 1-2 in the group stage of the second annual seasonal tournament.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. Russell Westbrook provided a three-point barrage in the fourth quarter, earning closing minutes in a 16-point performance. Peyton Watson went for 15 points, three blocks and three assists. It nearly brought Denver back from a 24-point hole.

“You can’t go into a game and expect to win,” coach Michael Malone said. “And now we have to get on a plane and go to LA and try to get a road win. So hopefully our lesson has been learned. Good basketball half, but in this competition you don’t win by playing a half.”

Jamal Murray’s up-and-down offensive season continued, however, as his ten assists were overshadowed by 4-of-16 shooting. He was also the defender guarding Naji Marshall when Marshall drove to his left with 18.8 seconds left for a lead-doubling bucket. Marshall scored a career-high 26.

A late three from Murray cut the deficit to one, but Dallas continued making free throws and fouls with a three-point lead with 4.2 seconds remaining. Denver (8-6) never got another field goal attempt.

The Nuggets celebrated the return of their MVP with perhaps their worst first half of the season. They were outshot 61% to 42%, outscored 44-20 in the paint and rebounded 24-17. The Mavericks converted all seven shots after offensive rebounds for a 15-7 lead in second-chance points and turned Denver’s 11 turnovers into a 13-5 lead in transition. Many of their paint points were easy layups or dunks.

Murray and Porter combined for 10 points in the half. Jokic’s teammates combined to shoot 10 for 30 from the floor. Four of those 10 made baskets were assisted by Jokic.

“I think a lot of guys exhaled because Nikola was back,” Malone said. “And expected Superman to carry the day. And that’s not fair. Do your own work.”

The result was a 73-53 deficit, which I feel should have been even worse. And then it got even worse. When Dallas scored the first four points of the half, the Nuggets’ lifelong NBA Cup dreams seemed dead.

Their sudden awakening can best be traced to Porter’s. As Murray continued to struggle, Porter picked him up by knocking down contested 3s, scoring as a driver and cutter, playing on the offensive glass and deflecting passes. It took seven minutes for Denver to put together a 27-6 run and get within one possession.

All that loomed was the unavoidable reality the Nuggets had grown accustomed to over the past week: a team so adept at playing from behind this season still had to survive the minutes without Jokic. While driving in the red light.