SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The fourth seed Dallas Mavericks knock off the fifth seed Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs in a 98-96 nailbiter in Salt Lake City.
Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic brought it home for Dallas tonight. They both had 24 points a piece combining for 48 of Dallas’s 98 total points.
Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie brought some spice to the party as well. Finney-Smith had 18 points and Dinwiddie had 19 points.
Dallas seems to have a trend going these last few months and here’s how it goes; they play decent, sub-par basketball in the first and second quarters which makes everyone question if we are going to win the game. Then they come out of the locker room after the half all rested up and proceed to dominate the entire third quarter which then sets them up for a great fourth quarter finisher.
That exact trend happened tonight with the Jazz. Utah took the first two quarters giving them a 53-41 lead at the half. Dallas then took over in the third, outscoring Utah 36-19 giving them a 77-72 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The game was back and forth the entire fourth quarter and it was a nailbiter until the final seconds of the game. Jalen Brunson iced it after nailing some free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining giving a two point lead. Utah tried to throw up a last minute shot to win the game but missed.
This is the first time the Dallas Mavericks have won a playoff series since they won the Championship back in 2011. Is something brewing here in Dallas?
Dallas will move on to the next second round of the NBA Playoffs and face the No. 1 seed out of the West, the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker did return for the Suns in Game 6 vs the Pelicans so it looks like it’s going to be a full force from the Suns. With Luka and Devin both back healthy again it should be an exciting series to watch.
The game schedule for the second round is below:
Game 1: Mavericks @ Suns -Monday May 2 – 9 PM CST
Game 2: Mavericks @ Suns -Wednesday May 4 – 9 PM CST
Game 3: Suns @ Mavericks -Friday May 6 , – 8:30 CST
Game 4: Suns @ Mavericks -Sunday May 8 TBD
*Game 5: Mavericks @ Suns -Tuesday May 10 – IF NEEDED
*Game 6: Suns @ Mavericks -Thursday May 12 – IF NEEDED
*Game 7: Mavericks @ Suns -Sunday May 15 – IF NEEDED
