The Dallas Mavericks keep stacking wins in NBA Cup play, and this one came with a little more proof that they’re not just getting by - they’re moving ahead of schedule.
Dallas beat the Utah Jazz to stay undefeated in the Cup and became the first team in West Group A to reach two wins. The Mavericks now sit at 2-0 in group play, with Utah at 1-1, the Nuggets at 1-0, and the Suns and Rockets both at 0-1. The victory also pushed Dallas to a +19 point differential in the tournament.
The game was tight through the first half, with Utah hanging around and looking more like a functional NBA team. Dallas took control after the break, using a third-quarter surge to build a 16-point cushion. From there, the Mavericks had enough to keep the Jazz at arm’s length.
Kyrie Irving again gave Dallas a steady presence, even with his name in trade rumors. He had already been the one holding things together in the Mavericks’ loss to the Spurs before the rest of the roster settled in, and he was once again a stabilizing force here.
Cooper Flagg led the way with 21 points and looked noticeably more comfortable than he did on Wednesday, even if the shot line was a little uneven at 7-for-16 from the field. He remains the clear centerpiece and biggest star on the roster, but Dallas is getting real value from the veterans around him, especially Irving and PJ Washington.
Rookie Morez Johnson also turned in a notable night, posting his first double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds. Paired with Flagg, that gives Dallas a frontcourt that already looks like one of the more promising young groups in the league.
Utah had its own bright spots. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points, and the team shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range, a number that usually keeps a game competitive. Darryn Peterson, the second overall pick, was used more like a role player, though he did set a career-high with x points and took over for Utah in the fourth quarter.
The Jazz still couldn’t overcome Dallas on the glass. The Mavericks outrebounded Utah 63-45, and that physical edge has become a defining trait for this team early in the season.
After moving to 5-4 and climbing above .500, Dallas has given itself a reason to be taken seriously. The NBA Cup may not be the final destination, but for this group it’s looking like a very useful measuring stick - and so far, the Mavericks are passing.
In Other News...
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Kyrie Concern They Can't Ignore
Kyrie Irving popped up on Dallas injury report ahead of the upcoming game against the Utah Jazz, and the designation is enough to make the Mavericks pay attention. He is listed as probable because of an illness, a reminder that even with the season moving along, the team still has to manage the health of a player who has already missed time this year and remains central to everything Dallas wants to do on offense.
Irvings status comes against the backdrop of a Mavericks report that includes several other players dealing with their own injury issues, which has become a familiar part of the nightly calculus. Dallas has already seen Irving miss two games this season for injury management, and after working his way back from an ACL injury, the last thing the team wants is another setback to complicate its rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Finally Get The Frontcourt Fix Theyve Been Missing
The Mavericks are getting closer to a healthier frontcourt mix ahead of their matchup with the Jazz, with Santi Aldama upgraded to probable after working back from knee surgery in March. Max Christie is also listed as probable after sitting out the previous game with hip soreness, while Dallas still has other players unavailable as it continues to manage a thin rotation.
Aldamas return is the part that stands out most for Dallas, because his presence should help with the kind of frontcourt shooting and offensive spacing the team has been missing. The Mavericks have been looking for more balance around the basket and beyond the arc, and getting Aldama back in the fold could give them a different look when they need it most. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Are Staying In The Race Before Their Roster Gets Whole
The Mavericks have managed to keep pace early, opening the season 4-3 even while leaning through some injury-related absences. For a team still waiting to get its roster closer to whole, that kind of start matters, especially with the frontcourt and perimeter both set to get some help once the injured pieces begin filtering back in.
Santi Aldama is expected to return soon, and his shooting and versatility should give Dallas a useful boost up front. Tarik Biberovic also looms as a potential answer on the wing as a sharpshooter who could help address the teams three-point shooting, while Dereck Lively II remains sidelined after foot surgery with no immediate return date, leaving the Mavericks to keep piecing things together for now. [Read more 🡒]