The Dallas Mavericks claimed their fifth consecutive win, this time over the Utah Jazz, and beat them 111-103 on Monday night. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Mike Conley shoots lights out for Utah, shooting 28 points.
The challenge of a tough Jazz group without Kristaps Porzingis, the Dallas Mavericks answered the call in the first quarter. Despite not having the best skin defense, the Mavericks linked on 5 of 12 outside shots, mostly through drive and kick opportunities. Luka Doncic scored nine while Dorian Finney-Smith picked eight. The Jazz put Rudy Gobert on Finney-Smith, which resulted in five tries in the frame and he hit two. Although the Mavericks took a seven-point lead at one point, a late Mike Conley wave pulled Utah back. Dallas led 27-25.
Cold shooting continued for the Jazz in the second and the Dallas Mavericks took advantage. The Mavericks were led early on by the ever-consistent Jalen Brunson and the striped Tim Hardaway. They built up a lead of eight that would hold more or less throughout the framework. Rudy Gobert’s skin protection was a problem for Luka Doncic, but Jason Richardson answered the call, took action and scored more tries. Dorian Finney-Smith’s strong play continued through strong bounces and passes, though he could not hit a few outside looks. Dallas led 50-42 at halftime.
It seemed like things could change the Jazz in third place as it slowly cut into the Dallas lead. At 7:30, the Mavericks led by five, 60-55. Utah just kept coming and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they went with a three-point flurry or because Rudy Gobert took over the defense. It never happened. Dallas finished the half on a 27-14 run. Luka Doncic climbed out of three points and DFS continued to attack. Dallas leads 87-69 after three quarters.
However, the Jazz would not go quiet and scored 11 points in the first two minutes. But the Mavericks just kept scoring. Jalen Brunson tries, Dorian Finney-Smith tries. It was beautiful. Then things stopped for both teams. For the Mavericks, they couldn’t hit an open look, for the Jazz, they got caught in quicksand. Dallas was actually four minutes without a basket. Things eventually broke down for both teams, but Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson scored enough to keep Utah at stake. The Dallas Mavericks walk away with a 111-103 victory.
Some thoughts:
Dorian Finney-Smith earned the respect of the Utah Jazz
The reconnaissance report for Finney-Smith has been the same for years: let him shoot from the outside. There’s a good reason for that, he’s not a good shooter. In fact, on wide-range shots, he takes very wide open shots out of three and strikes at a low rate (38.5% on wide open attempts). This is not criticism, this is what it is. Teams do not protect him and this can have consequences.
Against the Jazz, Dorian was the difference that set the tone for everyone’s success. His shooting (5-12 of three, while scoring 23 points this season) broke the defensive structure of the Jazz. Rudy Gobert on several occasions had no choice but to get to the three-point line, resulting in Dorian drift shots and kicks and a few shots on the edge.
I do not know if Dorian just needs more volume because he is already shooting 4.6 a game, and if we are just riding on the wave of Dorian shooting. He is 36% higher than the year before this game. For tonight, who cares, it was great, and I’m glad he had such a captivating game.
Three point shooting made the difference
That’s an obvious point, but the Jazz are among the league leaders in volume and percentage from behind the arc and they shot 27% to the 46% shooting bonanza for the Mavericks. Time for a cliché: this is a league for a make or miss.
There needs to be another convincing analysis on what affects the three-point defense for a team I’ve seen, and sometimes you’re at the bad end of a shooting range. However, I would be happy for the Jazz to miss most of the game, as Dallas has been on the move many times this season.
The protection of the Gobert dives
The Mavericks did a very good job and restored their defense on Rudy Gobert’s dives. The lack of three points apparently makes it a little easier because the Jazz rarely paid Dallas on the late challenges from behind the arc, but it was pretty amazing to see Maxi Kleber and Melli help get Gobert back. There’s probably a lot more to it than how I lay it out, but it’s one of the things that also enabled the Mavericks not to work on the rebound again.