DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks secured a 110-102 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night, thanks to Kyrie Irving’s impressive performance of 23 points and Klay Thompson’s contribution of 18 points.
In a troubling incident during the game, Utah forward Taylor Hendricks was taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury. The injury occurred midway through the third quarter when Hendricks fell to the ground without any contact. The medical team later confirmed he sustained a fractured right fibula and a dislocated ankle.
In addition to Irving’s standout play, Luka Doncic contributed 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, despite struggling with his shooting accuracy throughout the game. Irving initially struggled to get on the scoreboard, going scoreless until he made two crucial three-pointers in the closing moments of the first quarter. This victory marked the Mavericks’ second win in their opening three games of the season, showcasing their resilience as the defending champions of the Western Conference.
For the Jazz, Collin Sexton led the scoring with 23 points, with Lauri Markkanen and Keonte George both adding 17 points. Unfortunately, this loss continues a troubling trend for Utah, marking the first time since the 2015-16 season that they have fallen to 0-3.
Doncic had an off night, shooting just 5 of 22 from the field and only connecting on one of his nine attempts from beyond the arc, raising concerns about his shooting performance going forward. His only successful three-pointer came in the final moments of the game.
In terms of performance analysis, the Jazz entered the game ranked 29th in the NBA for field-goal shooting, achieving just 39% accuracy in their previous matchups and only 37% last night. The Mavericks’ shooting came primarily from their sharpshooters, where Irving was successful with 3 of his 6 three-point attempts while Thompson converted 4 of 11.
A pivotal moment occurred with just under three minutes remaining, as Dallas led 101-95. A critical block by Washington on Kessler at the rim set the tone, and Doncic followed up with a much-needed three-pointer that extended the lead to nine points.
In a key statistic for the Mavericks, Doncic almost experienced another game without hitting a three-pointer for the second time in five games, an unsettling trend dating back to the previous season. He even went 0 for 8 in three-point attempts during a Finals game against the Boston Celtics.
Looking ahead, both teams will face back-to-back matchups on Tuesday night. The Jazz will host the Sacramento Kings, while the Mavericks are set to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road.