The Mavericks didn’t exactly light the building up early Friday night, but they still walked away with a 112-100 win over the Jazz and moved to 2-0 in NBA Cup Group Play.
Dallas was trying to snap a two-game skid at home, with Kyrie Irving playing through an illness and Santi Aldama making his debut after recovering from knee surgery. The opening stretch was messy.
Cooper Flagg and Irving both had trouble finding the basket, while P.J. Washington and Morez Johnson Jr. kept the offense afloat.
Washington and Johnson combined for 13 of Dallas’ 26 first-quarter points, and the Mavericks trailed by two after one.
The second quarter didn’t clean things up much, though Aldama brought some needed versatility off the bench. Washington caught fire in the period, scoring 11 points after burying three triples, and Dallas went into halftime tied 57-57. Even so, it wasn’t the kind of tie that felt reassuring against a Jazz team that has been struggling.
Utah briefly grabbed control again after the break when Ace Bailey finished a lob with a slam to put the Jazz ahead 70-68 and force a Dusty May timeout. Whatever was said there worked. Dallas ripped off a 21-6 run over the final seven minutes and change of the third quarter, with Flagg throwing down a windmill, Morez Johnson Jr. hammering alley-oops, and Irving getting to his signature pull-ups.
That surge kept rolling into the fourth. The Mavericks opened with a 7-0 burst and suddenly had a 20-point lead a few minutes into the period.
Utah didn’t fold. Rookie Darryn Peterson kept the Jazz hanging around by scoring the first 12 points of the quarter for his team.
With a chance to trim the margin to 10 about six minutes left, Keyonte George split a pair of free throws, and Dallas answered right away with a P.J. Washington three and a Naji Marshall transition dunk.
From there, the Mavericks cruised home.
Aldama’s stat line jumped off the page considering he played only about 13 minutes. He finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds and was a plus-17, which is a huge impact in limited time. He still looked like a player getting his legs under him, but his defensive versatility, rebounding, and three-point threat all showed up.
Washington delivered his best game of the season, posting 26 points and 6 rebounds while going 6-for-10 from deep. He has fit alongside Flagg better than the early noise suggested, and Friday was a reminder of how dangerous he can be when his shot is falling.
Johnson also answered the call. After some fans had been pushing for more from him, he responded with 13 points and 17 rebounds. He has been dealing with shin splints, which has affected his athleticism, but he looked more comfortable and active.
Flagg’s night followed a familiar pattern. He was quiet in the first half, shooting just 2-for-8, before turning it on after the break to finish with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
It was his third straight game with a rough first half after going 2-for-10 against the Kings on Monday and 1-for-11 against the Spurs on Wednesday. He’s still producing at an All-Star level, but Dallas would be even more dangerous if he started games with a little more confidence in his shot.
In Other News...
Jeremy Sochans Dallas Decision Could Shape What Comes Next
The Mavericks developmental pipeline got a little more interesting this week as Jeremy Sochan weighed his next step and, in the process, highlighted how much front-office relationships can matter when a player is deciding between staying in the U.S. or heading overseas. For Dallas, the choice is about more than one players immediate landing spot. It speaks to how the organization is trying to position its G League affiliate as a real option for talent that might otherwise look to Europe for a clearer path and a bigger role.
The timing also matters because the broader market for available players keeps shifting. Cedi Osman is facing a lengthy recovery after surgery on his right meniscus, Greg Brown III is set for surgery on a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and Dalano Banton was waived after a brief stint in China, while Ed Davis is dealing with allegations tied to a sports bribery scheme involving Malik Beasley. Against that backdrop, Dallas has a chance to keep building a development network that feels stable and appealing, even if the full payoff from Sochans decision is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Finally Look Healthier But One Rotation Question Still Looms
The Mavericks are starting to get some bodies back at a useful time, with a back-to-back looming against the Nets and Pacers. Kyrie Irving is not listed on the injury report for the upcoming game, and Dallas is finally getting closer to something resembling its regular rotation after a stretch in which availability has been a moving target.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few questions hanging over Sunday. Dallas has four players listed, with three already ruled out because of various injuries, so the staff may still have to juggle minutes and roles even as the roster gets healthier. Brooklyn has not submitted its report yet, but the Nets are expected to be without guards Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., which only adds another layer to a game where the Mavericks are trying to stabilize their lineup without overextending anyone. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Problem Is Suddenly Becoming A Real Advantage
What looked like a preseason concern for Dallas has started to look like a roster strength, with the backup point guard spot and the frontcourt both holding up better than expected. Contributions from Walter Clayton Jr., Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford have helped steady the rotation, while coach Dusty May has gotten the kind of defensive buy-in that can change the tone of a team early in the season.
The bigger development is how that depth is shaping the Mavericks identity on that end of the floor. Dallas has been more versatile with its lineups and has been able to keep energy on the court, with the frontcourt group giving the staff more ways to mix and match without losing physicality. For a team that entered the year with questions in those areas, the early returns have been encouraging, even if the full ceiling of this group is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]