Dallas Mavericks Demolish Utah Jazz 144-122
The Dallas Mavericks welcomed the Utah Jazz to the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. The Mavericks had the game from start to finish, defeating the Jazz 144-122 in the first of two games this weekend. Dallas improved to 16-26, while Utah fell to 14-27.
Dallas’ win signaled resilience despite the absence of their high-profile starters, such as Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. Klay Thompson led the Mavs with 26 points, one rebound, and six assists, after abysmal shooting for most of the season. Brice Sensabaugh led the Jazz with 27 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Dallas hosted Seats for Heroes Night to honor local military service members and veterans by providing them with courtside seats. Dallas’ annual event for the local military began in 2004.
In case you missed it, Dallas’ comeback fell short in a 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Naji Marshall led the Mavs with 24 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 33 points, two rebounds, and five assists.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz Starters
Just hours before tip-off, Dallas was granted an additional roster spot under the NBA’s hardship rules and subsequently signed forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl for a 10-day contract, per Mavs PR.
Dallas’ starting lineup featured Jaden Hardy, Brandon Williams, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, and Dwight Powell. Dallas ruled out Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Anthony Davis (finger), Cooper Flagg (ankle), PJ Washington (injury management), Max Christie (illness), and Daniel Gafford (ankle).
Utah’s starting lineup featured Isaiah Collins, 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
Thursday night’s game between the Mavs and Jazz highlighted their noteworthy history. Both teams have played 195 regular-season games, with Utah winning 110 and Dallas 85. Both teams have also met three times in the NBA playoffs, with Dallas winning 3-0.
Both teams played in a high-scoring first quarter. With his 2,085th career three-pointer, Klay Thompson passed Damian Lillard for fourth in the NBA’s all-time list in career three-pointers. Thompson, 35, trails Ray Allen (2,973), James Harden (3,293), and Stephen Curry (4,201). Ace Bailey rushed to the rim for a dunk to impress the Jazz’s road fans in attendance. Dallas took a 35-24 lead to end the first.
Dallas maintained a double-digit lead in the second quarter. However, Utah tied Dallas 11-11 in scoring. Utah made it a 10-point game at the halfway point, but Dallas continued to show composure. Dallas took a 70-50 lead into halftime, their largest lead of the season.
Dallas went on a whopping 20-4 run to open the third quarter. Dallas’ 57% from the field helped drive the third-quarter scoring. Naji Marshall played excellent defense, while Caleb Martin threw down a breakaway reverse jam. Dallas took a 112-79 lead through three quarters.
Klay Thompson got his shine on in the fourth quarter. Thompson had his third 35-point game this season. Thompson’s 35 points, including multiple three-pointers, reminded the NBA world of the vintage version as one-half of the “Splash Brothers” duo alongside Stephen Curry from 2011 to 2024. Dallas won 144-122 in regulation.
Next Steps
The Mavericks and Jazz will face each other again at the American Airlines Center on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Central. The Mavs can beat the Jazz by improving their defensive readiness, emphasizing teamwork and communication on defense, and fine-tuning their offensive execution. The Jazz can defeat the Mavs by focusing on their defensive strengths, utilizing key players like Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, and creating matchup problems.
