Mavs Lose To Jazz
The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Utah Jazz 119-112 Thursday night at the American Airlines Center. Utah used a 25-7 run spanning the first and second quarters to turn a three-point deficit (30-27) into a 15- point lead (52-37). The Jazz then led for the remainder of the game.
Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea made his 100th career start and tallied a season-high (team-high) 23 points (9-15 FGs, 5-7 3FGs), including 20 in the first half, to go along with a team-high eight assists in 28 minutes (previous high: 21 points vs. the L.A. Clippers 12/2). It was his fifth 20-point effort of the season (Dallas moved to 4-1 in such games this year following tonight’s loss). It was also his 20th game with eight-plus assists this year.
Barea appeared in his 567th game with Dallas, passing Mark Aguirre (566) for eighth place on the Mavericks’ all-time games played list. Shawn Bradley ranks seventh with 582 games.
Barea’s 20-point first-half was tied for the highest-scoring half of his career. He had a 20-point opening half at Brooklyn on 12/23/15 and a 20-point second half vs. Atlanta on 12/6/08.
Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes totaled 21 points, including 10 in the first quarter, to go along with four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 33 minutes. Barnes scored 20-plus points for the seventh time in his last 11 games and the 30th time this season.
Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell netted 20 points (8-16 FGs, 3-6 3FGs, 1-1 FTs), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 26 minutes off the bench. It was his fifth 20-point outing of the season (eighth career).
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki logged 25 minutes against the Jazz on Thursday. He passed Kevin Garnett (50,418) for third place on the NBA’s all-time regular-season minutes played list and has now played 50,437 regular-season minutes in his career. Former Jazz great Karl Malone ranks second with 54,852 career minutes.
Aaron Harrison, who was signed to a 10-day contract by Dallas earlier today, made his Mavericks debut and recorded six points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 20 minutes off the bench.
Jazz rookie guard Donovan Mitchell netted a game-high 26 points (11-22 FGs, 1-6 3FGs, 3-4 FTs), including 14 in the first quarter, to go along five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 36 minutes. Mitchell scored 20-plus points for the 38th time in 69 games this season.
Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio registered 22 points (8-14 FGs, 4-8 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), five rebounds, three assists and a season-high (game-high) five steals in 34 minutes. The Jazz improved to 11-1 this season when Rubio scores 20-plus points.
Jazz forward Joe Ingles notched his second double-double of the season (second career) with 18 points (7-10 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 1-1 FTs), including 10 in the second quarter, to go along with six rebounds and a career-high-tying (game-high) 10 assists in 35 minutes. His other double-double came just seven games prior (11 points and 10 assists at Indiana 3/7/18).
The Mavericks used a 13-4 run in the opening quarter to turn a six-point deficit (23-17) into a three-point advantage (30-27). But the Jazz responded with a 25-7 run spanning the first and second periods to go up by 15 (52-37) with 7:38 left in the opening half. Utah then led for the remainder of the game.
Dennis Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Wesley Matthews (right proximal fibula fracture) and Seth Curry (left leg surgery) all missed the game for Dallas due to injury. Raul Neto (left wrist fracture), Thabo Sefolosha (right knee surgery) and Tony Bradley (concussion protocol) did not play for Utah. Erik McCree was on assignment with Utah’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.
The attendance for today’s game was 19,725. The Mavericks have now sold out 674 consecutive regular-season home games, which is an NBA-best sellout streak. The streak began on 12/15/01 and Dallas has sold out an additional 67 playoff games during that same stretch.
The Mavericks’ next game is vs. Charlotte on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. CT
