3 things to watch as the Mavericks face the Jazz (again)

Groundhog Day as the Mavs and Jazz wrap a back-to-back set

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) meet the Utah Jazz (14-27) Saturday in a game with an early 4:00pm CST tipoff at American Airlines Center. If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because the two teams faced off Thursday, with the home team Mavericks winning in a blowout, 144-122. Both teams were coming off a loss the night before (Dallas lost to Denver 118-109, while Utah fell 128-126 to Chicago) and both teams were without their leading scorer, but Dallas’ crew of bench and two-way players made an effective

supporting cast for Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall as the Mavs nursed a 30-point lead for much of the second half. Saturday’s clash, the finale of the season series between these clubs, caps a four-game homestand for Dallas.

Big and rich

The presence of forward Lauri Markkanen, who missed the Jazz’ last two contests with illness, has been the difference between the Jazz looking like a pretty competent outfit, as they did Monday in an impressive 123-112 road win against Cleveland, and the Jazz team that gave up 150 points to Charlotte Saturday and 144 to the Mavericks Thursday. Markkanen scored 33 and 28 in these teams’ first two meetings, both Jazz home wins in which they outmuscled Mavs lineups with and without Anthony Davis. Markkanen and center Kyle Filipowski took over in overtime Dec. 15 after the Mavericks had spent much of the game outscoring their opponents in the paint. In their next game Jan. 8 when the Jazz needed buckets after the Mavericks erased a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, they went after Daniel Gafford as Markkanen drew Davis away from the basket. With Markkanen sitting Thursday, the Mavericks turned the tide and pushed the smaller Jazz lineups around, harassing Filipowski into 1-of-5 three-point shooting and coming up with rebounds as they protected their lead.

Brice cooker

Guard Brice Sensabaugh was electric down the stretch against the Mavericks Jan. 8, drawing a charge on Cooper Flagg, finding Keyonte George and Markkanen for baskets, and doing some scoring on his own, including a huge three-pointer and a steal and layup in the final two minutes. Thursday’s contest was not as competitive but he scored 27 on 10-of-15 shooting, the latest in a run of recent efficient performances. Sensabaugh and Lewisville-born George, both third-year players, join a core of young players for the ostensibly tanking Jazz who are developing ahead of the team’s rebuilding schedule. Second-year forward Cody Williams is finally rounding into form after a shaky start to the season; the Jazz are not yet a good defensive team but Williams is a good perimeter defender whose offense is catching up. Ace Bailey, the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft, scored 15 most recently against the Mavericks but was held to one make on five tries from three.

Today is tomorrow

The Mavericks’ bossiness near the basket Thursday was all that more impressive considering that the team was missing the top three big men on the depth chart, plus PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg, both out with ankle sprains. To make it work, the Mavericks leaned heavily on center Moussa Cisse, guard Miles Kelly, and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who all topped 20 minutes. Kelly made three of eight three-pointers, Cisse tallied his first career double-double, and Robinson-Earl debuted with 12 points and seven boards. While Flagg is considered doubtful to play Saturday, the possible return of Max Christie, who missed Thursday’s game with illness, would give the Mavericks some shooting and scoring at the rim which will be much needed if the Jazz have more of their starters available.

For the second straight season, injuries have the Mavericks needing to get creative to field a healthy lineup, using their recently awarded 10-day hardship exception to sign Robinson-Earl. There has been no shortage of tough news lately for the Mavericks, and the forecast after this game calls for six more weeks of winter- of the Mavs’ next 13 opponents between now and Feb. 20, all but two (the Bucks and Hornets) have a winning record.