Mavericks vs. Jazz: Young Guns, Missing Stars, and a Battle in the Paint
The Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz are back at it again Saturday afternoon at American Airlines Center, tipping off at 4:00 p.m. CST in the final matchup of their season series. If it feels like déjà vu, that’s because it kind of is - the two teams just squared off Thursday night in the same building, where Dallas ran away with a 144-122 win, despite missing some serious firepower.
Both squads came into that game on the second night of a back-to-back, and both were without their leading scorers. But it was the Mavericks’ supporting cast - a mix of bench depth and two-way contract players - that stepped up in a big way.
Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall led the charge, but the real story was how deep Dallas dug into its rotation and still managed to dominate. They built a 30-point cushion and never looked back, cruising through the second half and giving their starters some much-needed rest.
Saturday’s matchup closes out a four-game homestand for the Mavericks and wraps up what’s been a wild season series between two teams in very different places - one chasing playoff position, the other still figuring out its identity.
Lauri Markkanen: The Jazz’s Difference-Maker
If Utah’s recent performances have felt like a rollercoaster, look no further than Lauri Markkanen’s availability. When he’s on the floor, the Jazz look like a competent, physical team - like they did in Monday’s 123-112 win in Cleveland.
When he’s out, things unravel fast. Just ask Charlotte (who dropped 150 on them) or Dallas (who put up 144).
Markkanen missed the last two games due to illness, and his absence was glaring. In the first two meetings with Dallas - both Jazz wins at home - he was a force, scoring 33 and 28 points and helping Utah control the paint.
Even when Anthony Davis was active for the Mavs, Markkanen and rookie center Kyle Filipowski found ways to impose their will. In their December 15 overtime win, it was Markkanen and Filipowski who took over late after Dallas had been winning the battle inside for most of the game.
On January 8, after the Mavericks clawed back from a 14-point hole, it was Markkanen again who stepped up - pulling Davis out of the paint and creating room for others to attack.
But on Thursday, with Markkanen sidelined, the Mavericks flipped the script. Filipowski struggled from deep (1-of-5 from three), and Dallas controlled the glass, bullying Utah’s smaller lineups and protecting the paint with purpose.
Brice Sensabaugh Is Heating Up
One bright spot for the Jazz? Brice Sensabaugh.
The third-year guard has been turning heads lately, and Thursday was no exception. He dropped 27 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting night, continuing a stretch of strong performances that suggest he’s finding his rhythm.
Back on January 8, Sensabaugh was a difference-maker late - drawing a charge on Cooper Flagg, setting up teammates like Keyonte George and Markkanen, and scoring key buckets himself, including a clutch three and a steal-turned-layup in crunch time. That kind of two-way energy is exactly what Utah’s looking for as it develops its young core.
Speaking of George - the Lewisville native and fellow third-year player - he’s been steady, and together with Sensabaugh, gives the Jazz a pair of young guards who are growing into their roles. Second-year forward Cody Williams is also starting to find his footing.
He’s already a solid perimeter defender, and now his offensive game is catching up. Rookie Ace Bailey, the No. 5 overall pick, had 15 points in the last meeting but struggled from deep, hitting just one of five from beyond the arc.
This Jazz team may be rebuilding, but the foundation is starting to show.
Dallas Gets Creative - And It’s Working
What the Mavericks did Thursday was impressive, especially when you consider who wasn’t on the floor. They were without their top three big men, plus PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg, both sidelined with ankle sprains. That’s a lot of size and skill to be missing.
So, Dallas got creative - and it worked. Center Moussa Cisse, guard Miles Kelly, and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl all logged 20+ minutes.
Cisse recorded his first career double-double, Kelly knocked down three triples, and Robinson-Earl made an immediate impact in his debut with 12 points and seven boards. None of these guys were supposed to be leading the charge, but they stepped up and gave the Mavericks exactly what they needed.
Flagg is doubtful to play Saturday, but there’s a chance Max Christie returns after missing Thursday’s game due to illness. If he’s back, it would give Dallas a much-needed boost in shooting and rim scoring - especially if Utah has more of its starters available this time around.
The Road Ahead
This has become a familiar theme for Dallas: battling through injuries and finding ways to stay competitive. For the second straight year, they’re having to patch together lineups and lean on depth. They recently used a 10-day hardship exception to bring in Robinson-Earl, and he’s already paying dividends.
But the road doesn’t get any easier. After Saturday, Dallas enters a brutal stretch - 13 games between now and February 20, and only two of those opponents (the Bucks and Hornets) currently have losing records. The Mavericks are going to need every bit of that next-man-up mentality if they want to stay afloat in the Western Conference race.
Saturday’s game might not have the marquee names, but it’s a window into two teams navigating very different paths - one trying to survive the grind, the other building for the future. And if Thursday was any indication, there’s still plenty of fight left in both.