With the Dallas Mavericks limping into Thursday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz, short-handed and seemingly outgunned, it would've been easy to expect a letdown. But Naji Marshall had other plans - and he made that clear with a highlight-reel finish just before halftime.
After big man Moussa Cissé battled for an offensive rebound, Marshall took off like a shot toward the rim. He sliced through the defense and capped the drive with a slick up-and-under layup that sent the American Airlines Center into a frenzy.
That bucket wasn’t just a flashy moment - it was a tone-setter. It helped push Dallas to a 20-point lead heading into the break, and from there, the Mavs never looked back.
Marshall’s performance didn’t just make the highlight reels - it was another example of his growing role in a Mavericks rotation that’s been ravaged by injuries. With Cooper Flagg, P.J.
Washington, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Kyrie Irving, and several others sidelined, Dallas needed someone to step up. Marshall answered that call - again.
He dropped 22 points, grabbed six boards, and dished out four assists in the 144-122 win over a mostly healthy Jazz squad. That’s now seven straight games where he’s hit double figures, and it’s not just the scoring - it’s the energy, the confidence, and the ability to make plays in the flow of the offense that’s been so valuable.
With so many key names out, Marshall’s consistency has become a stabilizing force. He’s not just filling in - he’s helping lead. And in a Western Conference that doesn’t offer much breathing room, that kind of contribution could be the difference between staying afloat and sliding down the standings.
Dallas still has plenty of work ahead as they wait for their stars to get healthy. But if Marshall keeps playing like this, the Mavericks might just weather the storm better than anyone expected.