Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis gave the fans a taste of what they wanted. So did Boban Marjanovic.
The Dallas Mavericks’ one-two punch of Doncic and Porzingis only played in the first half of Wednesday’s preseason opener against Utah. But it was more than enough to help the Mavs upend the Jazz, 111-101, at American Airlines Center.
Doncic played just under 16 minutes, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists and was a sparkling 8-of-10 from the field. Porzingis also was on the floor for 16 minutes and collected seven points, four rebounds and two blocks, and was 2-of-6 from the field.
The Mavs were up, 61-56, at the half – right after Doncic floated in a 10-footer with just 0.8 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Marjanovic then took it from there as he scored 14 points in the third quarter, including a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers that brought his teammates off the bench and roaring their approval.
Meanwhile, new coach Jason Kidd said he saw a firm connection between Doncic and Porzingis that he believes will be sustainable throughout the season.
“You could see Luka was trying to get him the ball in the flow — nothing forced,” Kidd said. “I thought Luka looked great, as if he never stopped playing this summer.
“I thought KP got inside, had some great looks on the outside. (And) both of those guys competed on the defensive end and that’s what we need.”
After Doncic and Porzingis finished carryied the load, Marjanovic took the baton and dazzled the crowd with a terrific display. In nine minutes in the third quarter, Marjanovic poured in 5-of-7 from the field and drilled his back-to-back 3-pointers that got the crowd going.
“Bobie was great in the post,” said Kidd, who was in his first game as the Mavs’ coach. “Then he showed, which I think was the coolest play of the game, Jalen Brunson setting him up for that first three. The second three, that was Bobie’s call. He broke the play.”
Broken play or not, Marjanovic’s teammates certainly got a thrill out the three-pointers he were able to drain.
“I really felt good, the shots felt good,” Marjanovic said of his three-pointers. “They throw me the ball, they saw me practice how I shoot and I was like, ‘Let’s do it, let’s do.’ And they go and I was like, ‘Yes, yes.’ I was so happy with myself.”
Mavs guard Carlik Jones also was happy with himself as he tossed in 13 points in 14 minutes on 6-of-10 shots.
“I feel like it’s just all about angles,” Jones said. “I give tons of credit to the bigs. They set their screens, and coming off I feel like it’s an advantage now for me and for our offense when a big sets a good screen.
“The person that’s guarding the ball is going to be behind. Sometimes the (opposing) big now has to play you and your big man, and I just kind of find the spots and try to get the ball on the glass where I can just finish.”
Following a dunk by Feron Hunt early in the fourth quarter, the Mavs led by as much as 20 points (99-79) and were never seriously threatened.
The Mavs played without starters Dorian Finney-Smith and Dwight Powell, and reserve guard Frank Ntilikina, while All-Stars Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley Jr. were among the key players who didn’t play for the Jazz (0-2).
Overall, the Mavs shot 47.3 percent from the field, made 11-of-30 shots from downtown for 36.7 percent, and outrebounded the Jazz, 54-40. Utah made 41.5 percent of its field goals and was 16-of-52 from three-point range for 30.8 percent.
Moses Brown showed some grit and determination for the Mavs with six points and six rebounds in 14 minutes, and Brunson added 10 points and eight assists
“I thought the guys did a great job,” said Kidd, whose team will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. “The energy, effort, game plan. Utah is normally a little bit bigger than that, but it was actually kind of cool that we can guard the smalls.
“Also, we hadn’t worked on any of our switch attack offense, and then we still at the half had put up 61. It’s good to see the guys playing at a high level, being unselfish on the offense end, and again, defensively, I thought they did a really good job for the first time out.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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