Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Callie Caplan

Defensive hangover prevents Luka Doncic, Mavericks from closing gap with Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY — The All-Star break didn’t sap the Mavericks’ offensive roll.

But, their defense might’ve endured a post-vacation hangover.

Dallas lost to the Utah Jazz, 114-109, in Vivint Arena on Friday night despite 23 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds from Luka Doncic in 35 minutes.

The Mavericks’ first game in eight days held home-court implications in the Western Conference playoff standings as No. 4 Utah entered the night 1.5 games ahead, but Dallas couldn’t capitalize on a chance to narrow their gap in their first of three meetings over the next month.

The teams will clash again in Dallas on March 7 and March 27, and the Mavericks hope their support around Doncic will continue.

Center Dwight Powell (22 points) and new trade additions Spencer Dinwiddie (20) and Davis Bertans (17) combined for 59 points and 12 rebounds as Utah’s defense, led by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, smothered Doncic throughout the game.

For a moment late in the game, Doncic appeared to have the upper hand as he hit a mid-range bucket in a one-on-one matchup with Gobert and then sank a stepback 3-pointer on the next possession to give Dallas a 107-105 lead with 3:12 remaining.

But Doncic missed his last two 3-point attempts to finish the game shooting 8 of 24 from the floor, and Utah closed on a 9-2 run.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.