DALLAS, TEXAS — The Mavericks notched their first 5 game winning streak of the season defeating the NBA’s best team record wise the Utah Jazz 111-103. The Mavericks were without Kristaps Porzingis and in his place Nicolo Melli got his first start with the Mavericks since being acquired via trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Dallas began the first quarter missing their first three shot attempts of the game, but turned it around quickly. It was an electric first quarter for Luka Doncic who knocked down 4 out of 8 of his shot attempts with one of those shots coming from deep. Doncic scored 9 first quarter points and added 3 assists. Dorian Finney-Smith who has scored a ton of hustle points this season scored 8 points knocking down 2 three pointers in the process. Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr led the bench in scoring with a combined 7 points. Dallas finished the first quarter with a decent shooting performance converting on 48% of their shots and 41% of their shots from three.
Dallas held a 2 point 27-25 lead but the Jazz stayed in the game and got a big time first quarter out of Mike Conley who scored 13 points and scored the 3 of the final baskets for the team to end the first.
It was a spirited start to the second quarter for the Mavericks. Dallas made 2 three pointers to open the quarter and scored on 3 of their second quarter opening shot attempts. Dallas found their rhythm and gave the league’s best record holder some pushback. The Mavericks weren’t going to let the Jazz come here and push them around like they did in Salt Lake City. Josh Richardson and Jalen Brunson caught fire from the field in the second quarter and converted on 67% of their shot attempts combined. Richardson scored on all of his shot attempts from the field and finished the second with 11 points and Brunson scored 7 points on 3 out of 7 shooting.
The Mavericks finished the first half with an 8 point 50-42 lead and shot 42% from the field. What helped the Mavericks was the combination of their defensive attack at the perimeter forcing the Jazz to take shots inside the arc and how well their bench played not only offensively but on the defensive end as well.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s dominant first half performance carried over into the second half continuing his career night. Finney Smith knocked down both of his shot attempts to open the third quarter increasing his point to 17 points which is a season high for him. Per usual, Tim Hardaway Jr entered the game in the third quarter and lit it up from the field. Hardaway Jr scored 9 third quarter points and knocked down 2 three pointers. Luka Doncic had himself a third quarter connecting on 4 three pointers with one coming with seconds before the end of the third quarter. To put the cherry on top of the double digit sundae, Tim Hardaway Jr knocked down a three pointer from the logo to give the Mavericks an 18 point 87-69 lead.
The potential for the Mavericks offense to explode at any time has always been there but the eruption the offense experienced was magnified because fans were in the stands at the American Airlines Center and it seemed like it gave the Mavericks some juice heading into the fourth quarter.
Comfortability is a tangible asset and it can be the factor to take the lid off a game and Dorian Finney-Smith was more than comfortable from the three point line. Finney-Smith knocked down 2 consecutive three pointers at the beginning of the fourth quarter which helped the Mavericks maintain their double digit lead which came close to being clipped after the Jazz found some luck on the offensive end.
The Mavericks energy was close to unmatched, each player played with a heightened level of tenacity that contributed in some aspect. Collectively the Mavericks had one of their best nights from beyond the arc knocking down 23 out of 49 three pointers which is 46% and Dallas had 3 players make more than 5 of their three point shot attempts. The man of the night was Dorian Finney-Smith who finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block more than likely securing the Mavericks defensive belt for the second time in three games and the third time of the season.
The Mavericks gave the best team in the NBA record wise their first loss in two and a half weeks. Dallas is riding high, securing their first 5 game win streak of the season and the win tonight should serve as a big time injection of momentum as the Mavericks homestand just gets started. Dallas will travel to Houston for an abbreviated road trip to play the Rockets on Wednesday in hopes of extending their 5 game winning streak.
