Final: Mavs 101, Jazz 92
Box Score | Highlights
Behind the Box Score
Dirk Nowitzki hit career 3-pointer No. 1,700 tonight, becoming just the 15th player in NBA history to do so. Nowitzki also enjoyed his first four-3 game since March 6.
Dallas responded from a rough-shooting first quarter (36.8 percent) with a sizzling second (52.1 percent shooting, 1.167 points per possession). Also working in the Mavs’ favor was the club’s ball security, as Dallas turned it over only once in the second frame after doing so four times in the first.
Ball movement and dribble penetration created all sorts of good looks for the Mavs in this game, particularly in the first half. Of the club’s 27 jumpers in the opening act, 16 of them were what the club considers “open,” while only 11 were “contested.” The ball flew all across the floor in the first half, as Deron Williams and J.J. Barea drew the attention of the Jazz defense, and they were able to locate Dallas shooters around the arc.
Notebook
With the win, the Mavs have advanced to the postseason for the 15th time in 16 seasons. This organization has been a model of consistency for almost all of Dirk Nowitzki’s career. This was a huge result for the Mavs, too, as it guarantees no lower than seventh place in the Western Conference ahead of Wednesday’s game against San Antonio. A win that night could push the Mavs to as high as fifth in the West depending on how Portland and Memphis fare in their final games. Regardless of where they end up in the standings, though, Dallas has at least earned a trip. From now on, it’s game on.
Dirk was nearly unstoppable tonight, scoring 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. He was red-hot from the start, connecting on a pair of treys early in the first quarter and carrying that rhythm all the way through the end of the game. Nowitzki had been fighting through a bit of a cold spell early in the Mavs’ win streak, but he’s come alive once again lately to become the go-to hub of the offense. He’s clearly transitioned into playoff mode; he even picked up a technical foul in the first half for getting into a bit of a jawing match with Jazz wing Joe Ingles. Dirk is still That Dude, he’s always been That Dude, and he always will be That Dude.
One day after returning to the lineup, Deron Williams had a monster first half. He scored 18 points and added three rebounds and three assists in the opening frame to lead the Mavs, including scoring a few key buckets at the end of the half to fend off red-hot Utah. Williams was every bit as effective as we’ve seen him be all year, finding his spots on the floor with ease and operating mostly in the mid-range. He closed both the second and third quarters very well for the Mavs, which was hugely important at the time as Utah was making pushes during both segments. Williams finished with 23 points and six dimes.
J.J. Barea and Williams got the start in the backcourt tonight, while Wesley Matthews slid up to the small forward spot. The Mavs had previously started only one point guard (and Justin Anderson instead) during the entirety of their six-game winning streak, but they went with a different look tonight, perhaps in an effort to speed up the pace of the game and create more dribble penetration. Anderson saw playing time at the backup small forward position in relief for Matthews. It will be interesting to see which lineup the Mavs roll out on the Wednesday night finale against the Spurs, as that could perhaps be a preview of what’s to come in the playoffs. If there’s one thing you’ve learned this season, though, it’s that nothing is set in stone.
What’s Next
The Mavs (42-39) play the San Antonio Spurs (65-15) Wednesday at American Airlines Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Central.
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