MAVERICKS (15-16) at UTAH JAZZ (22-9)
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Place: Vivant Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City.
TV: ESPN.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Univision Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Jazz: They have stayed in the hung with Phoenix and Golden State in the Western Conference largely because they have had remarkable good health. Their preferred starting five, plus top reserves Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, have been together for 28 of their 31 games . . . The Jazz are No. 1 in the NBA in total offensive rating and also tops in the league in average points (115.8) and shooting percentage (47.8). They also lead the league in rebounding margin. They also shoot (and make) more 3-pointers than anybody else in the league . . . All of those stats are impressive, especially considering that the Jazz also own perennial defensive player of the year candidate Rudy Gobert, their 7-1 center who is averaging 15.5 points and 15.1 rebounds per game . . . They are led in scoring by guard Donovan Mitchell at 25.1 points per game and he also dishes out 5.1 assists per game . . . This is the finale of a six-game home stand on which the Jazz have gone 3-2 so far. The losses were to Washington and San Antonio. The wins came against the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte and Minnesota . . . Veteran point guard Mike Conley has done a masterful job of running the Jazz, averaging 13.9 points and 5.4 assists. He also averages just 1.7 turnovers per game and is shooting 44.7 percent from 3-point range.
About the Mavericks: They were waiting word on whether any of their players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols might get clearance to return and travel to start this trip. As of their latest injury report, the same seven players were listed as out for COVID-19 protocols: Luka Dončić, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke, JaQuori McLaughlin and Josh Green. Add on Willie Cauley-Stein (personal matter) and Eugene Omoruyi (right foot surgery) and the Mavericks are down nine players. Kristaps Porzingis (right toe soreness) remains listed as questionable . . . This is the start of a five-game, nine-day trip that won’t end until the Mavericks return home Jan. 3 against Denver. The journey goes from Utah to Portland to Sacramento for two games and ends at Oklahoma City the day after New Year’s Day . . . The Mavericks need a win to avoid slipping two games under .500 for the first time this season . . . To say the Mavericks have had some problems shooting would be a massive understatement. They have shot under 33 percent from 3-point range in six of the last seven games and have been under 30 percent in five of those contests. It’s probably fortunate given that foul shooting and the assortment of players missing that the Mavericks have gone 3-4 in those games . . . This will be their fifth Christmas Day game. They have gone 2-2 previously, including a 23-point loss last Christmas at the Los Angeles Lakers . . . The Mavericks lost both trips to Utah last season by an average of 15.5 points.
Twitter: @ESefko
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