Depleted Dallas Mavericks Decimate Utah Jazz 138-120
The Dallas Mavericks welcomed the Utah Jazz to the American Airlines Center on Saturday, also African American Heritage Night, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Mavericks defeated the Jazz 138-120 in the second game of a back-to-back set.
Dallas improved to 17-26 and extended its two-game winning streak, while Utah fell to 14-28 and suffered a three-game losing streak.
In case you missed it, Dallas blew out the Utah Jazz 144-122 on Thursday night. With the win, Dallas moved to a 17-2 (.895) record on Seats for Heroes nights, while Jason Kidd recorded his 195th career win as the Mavs head coach, surpassing Avery Johnson (194) for fourth place on the Mavs’ all-time career wins list.
Klay Thompson led the Mavs with 26 points, one rebound, and six assists — a sight to see given his poor shooting this season. Thompson, 35, also used his second three-pointer at 1:18 of the first quarter to pass Damian Lillard (2,804) for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goals made list. Ray Allen ranks third all-time with 2,973 three-pointers.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz Starters
The Mavericks came in hot, entering Saturday’s game, with Klay Thompson earning the “Winning Play of the Game” award on Thursday. The Jazz were just as hot, with Brice Sensabaugh scoring 70 points in the last 24 hours after Thursday’s game.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Brandon Williams, Max Christie, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, and Dwight Powell. Dallas ruled out Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Anthony Davis (finger), PJ Washington (personal/ankle), D’Angelo Russell (illness), Cooper Flagg (ankle), and Daniel Gafford (ankle).
The Jazz’s starting lineup featured Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, and Kyle Filipowski. Utah ruled out Walker Kessler (shoulder), Georges Niang (foot), Elijah Harkless (hamstring), and Lauri Markkanen (illness).
Mavericks vs. Jazz Recap
Saturday’s game between the Mavericks and Jazz showed a notable history between the two teams. In the past, Dallas and Utah played in both regular-season and postseason games, primarily competitive matchups.
On Friday, Keyonte George — a Lewisville, Texas native — turned the Dallas trip into a special occasion. George’s alma mater, Lewisville High School, honored him for his time there and his continued success on the court. Lewisville is about 25 miles north of Dallas.
The Mavs went on a 6-0 run to open the first quarter. The Jazz ended the Mavs’ run with a big bucket. Dallas applied both offensive and defensive pressure, capitalizing on Utah’s lack of offensive pressure. Naji Marshall powered through the defense. Dallas took a 42-29 lead to end the first.
The Jazz’s offensive pressure showed up in the second quarter. Ace Bailey used a spin move to get past the defense to score at the rim. Five Jazz players scored buckets from deep in the first half. The Mavs maintained a steady lead, courtesy of Klay Thompson’s three-pointers. Thompson, 35, picked up where he left off. Dallas took a 71-59 lead into halftime.
With a turnaround jumper at 4:56 of the first quarter, Klay Thompson reached 17,000 career points. Thompson, 35, is the 109th player in NBA history to reach the milestone. The 35-year-old also led all Mavs players with 23 points in the first half, marking his most points in the first half and tying the most points in any half this season.
Both teams’ spirits showed in the third-quarter scoring. Naji Marshall scored two points in the paint. Keyonte George reached 17 points at the half, including 10 in the third quarter. Utah picked up the pace but fell short of its goal. Dallas took a 106-94 lead through three quarters.
Both teams saw a slow start to the fourth quarter, but slowly picked up the pace. Brandon Williams found Caleb Martin, who scored two points in the paint. Ace Bailey reached 14 points and counting, showing no quit as Utah’s top rookie. Dallas won 138-120 in regulation.
Next Steps
The Mavericks hit the road to take on the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Monday, also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
Dallas can beat New York by improving their three-point shooting, executing plays efficiently, and fine-tuning their bench performances. New York can defeat Dallas through their strong defensive play, utilizing their key players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, and exposing Dallas’ defensive weaknesses.
The Jazz travel to take on the San Antonio Spurs in Frost Bank Center on Monday, also Dr. King Jr. Day in the U.S., at 4:00 p.m. Central.
Utah can beat San Antonio through strong performances, effective competition, and overall consistency. San Antonio can defeat Utah by improving their offense, maintaining their defense, and fine-tuning their overall shooting and ball movement.
