Turn on the game!

Three must-see events this week:

1. Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks (6 p.m. Tuesday, NBC) — The Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto will be in Dallas to cover the Nuggets’ attempt to avenge a Mavericks win on Dec. 1.

2. Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (6:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video) — Denver won’t have to beat injured Patrick Mahomes to win in Kansas City for the first time since September 2015.

3. Utah Mammoth at Avalanche (7 p.m. Tuesday, Altitude TV/ESPN+) — Of all the mind-blowing Avs analytics, this one jumps out: Colorado has a plus-30 goal differential in third periods.

Numbers game

28 — goals in 34 games for Avalanche bullet train Nathan MacKinnon, four clear of his nearest competition, while ranking first in points (59) and plus-minus (43) in a Hart Trophy-caliber start

Box office

$84 — for a Section 328 seat at Nuggets-Timberwolves on Christmas night (via Gametime)

On this day

Dec. 21, 2015 — Gary Kubiak woke up following a 34-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and decided the Broncos would not lose again, winning the next five, including Super Bowl 50

Final word

Shout-out to University of Denver basketball and first-year coach Tim Bergstraser, who secured impressive road win No. 3 on Saturday. The Pios went to Greeley and beat an excellent Northern Colorado club, 86-79. That comes after Denver won at Montana State and Colorado State. All three victims can win their respective leagues. Has DU found a long-term answer?

—Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette