PREVIEW

UTAH JAZZ (38-11) AT MAVERICKS (27-21)

Time: 6 p.m.

Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)

About the Mavericks: After losing to the Jazz twice in a span of three days back in January, the Mavs are hoping the third time is indeed the charm. The Mavs lost to the Jazz, 116-104, on Jan. 27 and 120-101 on Jan. 29. Those two losses were the middle games of the Mavs’ season-high six-game losing streak. . .The Mavs are 18-7 in their last 25 games. . .This is only a one-game homestand for the Mavs before they pack their bags to go play in Houston on Wednesday. However, this is the first of a period where the Mavs are playing nine of their next 11 games at home. After playing at Houston, the Mavs are back home for games against Milwaukee on Thursday, San Antonio on Sunday and Philadelphia on April 12. . .The Mavs are coming off an impressive 4-1 road trip where they lost the opener in New Orleans (112-103), then proceeded to rattle off four consecutive victories — at the Oklahoma City Thunder (127-106), at the Boston Celtics (113-108), at the New York Knicks (99-86) and at the Washington Wizards (109-87). . .Josh Richardson (left calf tightness) and Maxi Kleber (left leg contusion) are listed as day-to-day after being sidelined for last Saturday’s win over the Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis (right knee, injury recovery) sat out the game against the Wizards mainly because it was the second night of a back-to-back. So, he should be back in the lineup tonight. . .The Mavs are a season-high six games over .500. . .Luka Doncic is averaging 28.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 8.8 apg, and Porzingis averages 20.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg. . .A victory tonight would be a season-high five in a row for the Mavs, who have put together four four-game winning streaks this season.

About the Jazz: A lot of folks around the NBA have been consumed with what’s going on with the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. But it’s the Jazz who possess the best record in the entire NBA, and they have consistently owned that honor for most of this season. And the Jazz haven’t just been squeezing their way victories. Of Utah’s 38 wins, 28 of them have been by 10 or more points, including 19 by 15 or more points and 11 by 20 or more points. . .The Jazz enter tonight’s contest with a nine-game winning streak – three of those wins were over the Memphis Grizzlies and two of them were over the Chicago Bulls. . .During last Saturday’s 137-91 blowout victory over the Orlando Magic, the Jazz scored at least 29 points in every quarter, including 38 in the first quarter and 40 in the second quarter. The Jazz also set an NBA record for 3-pointers made in a half after making a remarkable 18 three-pointers in the first half of the game against Orlando, including 6-of-7 converted by Donovan Mitchell. Overall, the Jazz were an incredible 26-of-55 from 3-point range against the Magic, and also distributed 34 assists. . .Thanks to the win against Orlando, the Jazz have now scored 100 or more points in a franchise-record 39 games in a row. . .The Jazz are second in the league in three-point shooting at 39.8 percent . . .Utah is 16-9 on the road and 16-6 against Western Conference foes. The Jazz also are third in the league in scoring at 117.2 ppg, and their plus/minus of +10.1 is the best in the NBA.

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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