NBA: Harmless Mavericks lose against strong Jazz

The Utah Jazz (5-6) have won their first home race of the season by 117:102 over the Dallas Mavericks (3-8). Especially the backcourt was convincing. The only ray of hope for the Mavs was once again rookie Luka Doncic.

After the Dallas Mavericks finished their six-game negative series against the Washington Wizards, the Utah Jazz back-to-back game was a much more difficult task for the Texans. While the Mavs still have to do without Dirk Nowitzki, a return is planned for the end of the month, the Jazz could again rely on Donovan Mitchell. The shooting guard cured his ankle ligament stretch.

Utah made it clear early in the game who the master of the house was. Joe Ingles set the first exclamation mark with two corner trees and Rudy Gobert dominated DeAndre Jordan under the boards. In the middle of the first quarter the Jazz set off for the first time with a 14:4 run. Ricky Rubio constantly pushed the tempo and thus forced the transition game of jazz. Utah moved the ball and opponents in phases outstandingly, Dallas got defensively no access at all. Utah finished the first quarter with a 9:2 run.

It went on like this until halftime. The Mavs offensively incurred far too many ball losses, which Utah was often able to convert directly into points. In the meantime, Dallas was ten minutes without a goal from the game. Towards the end of the first half, Luka Doncic tried to take control. The rookie shortened with a threesome and his already characteristic floater, but the intermediate high didn’t last long. With a gap of 23 points from the point of view of the Mavs the break started.

Dallas managed to push the deficit to 16 points at times, but that was not sustainable. Utah didn’t dominate as much as in the first half, but he still moved the ball well and hit it ice cold from the perimeter. Especially Alec Burks stood out. Despite the comfortable lead, it still got a little nickety at the end of the third quarter when Derrick Favors elbowed towards the head of Dwight Powell. The Power Forward took a Flagrant I Foul.

When everyone was preparing for a cosy garbage time, the Mavs’ bench players shortened their lead to nine points. The game gained in intensity, Rubio and Dennis Smith Jr. clashed after a harmless situation and both conceded a technical foul. But Utah did not let the game be taken and won the match sovereign. Mitchell finally put the lid on it two minutes before the end.

He had 23 points on his account at the end, Rubio got 10 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Gobert secured himself a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds). A total of six jazz players scored in double figures. In the Mavs Doncic was top scorer with 24 points, DeAndre Jordan had a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) and again proved his impressive development at the Charity Stripe (7/8). Maxi Kleber remained rather inconspicuous in 13 minutes and finished the game with 2 points and 3 rebounds.

Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks 117:102 (BOXSCORE)

Donovan Mitchell. The young star of jazz attacked together with Rubio continuously the Mavericks basket. They kept the pace high, didn’t get lost, but always found the better positioned player. His ankle injury, which cost him the game against the Raptors, left no trace. He hit 9 of his 17 throws and besides the 23 points he had 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Jae Crowder was also strong with 14 bank points.

Dennis Smith Jr. The Guard couldn’t raise his game at any time. His aggressive attack was never to be seen, Smith Jr. took only six throws in the whole game and remained strangely passive. So the odds don’t look too bad, but the hope of the Mavs was no factor at all in the game. He can do better than that, anyway.

Utah coach Quin Snyder had his players attack the Mavs Zone time and again, knowing DeAndre Jordan would be pretty much on their own there. The plan worked out, as Jordan was constantly exposed to smaller opponents who were swung in front of him in the pick-n roll. And even in the duel with Rudy Gobert he was often left behind. The Mavs didn’t manage to adjust.