Luka Doncic leads Mavericks past Jazz, 113-97, into 6th place in West
DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic had 34 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 113-97 on Thursday night to move into the sixth and final guaranteed playoff position in the Western Conference.
Dallas won its third straight and seventh in eight games. The Mavericks and Phoenix - a winner at home late Thursday night over Atlanta - are both 41-29, but the Mavericks hold the tiebreaker over the Suns. Sacramento is a half-game behind.
Doncic, who has 18 triple-doubles this season, didn’t have a rebound or an assist in the fourth quarter, playing four minutes. He shot 11 of 23 from the floor, 4 of 10 on 3s.
Daniel Gafford added 24 points, his high game since being acquired in early February, on 10 of 11 shooting. Gafford went into play leading the NBA shooting 70.8%.
“He has great hands,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said about Gafford. “His ability to finish in traffic is something we haven’t had.”
Gafford missed the second half of the second quarter after crumpling to the court and being helped to the locker room, then returned to start the second half.
Kyrie Irving scored 16 points, 11 in the second half.
The Mavericks had 33 assists, four off their season high compiled in their 147-97 win over the Jazz at home on Dec. 6.
“Guys are being very unselfish, and it’s really fun to watch and be a part of,” Kidd said.
The Jazz were swept in a road back-to-back, losing at Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, and have lost four consecutive games and 15 of 18. They’re eight games out of play-in qualification with 12 games left.
Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 21 points after missing the previous seven games because of a quadriceps injury. Collin Sexton added 20 off the bench for his sixth straight game of at least 20 points.
Dallas led by 19 points after trailing by seven 2 1/2 minutes in. The Mavericks outscored the Jazz 27-15 in the second quarter to lead 53-42 with Utah shooting 31.6% in the period, 0 for 9 from deep, and committing seven turnovers.
Utah shot 4 of 30 from 3 overall, Markkanen going 1 of 9.
“It was a really tough night shooting the ball,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Credit to Dallas. That’s a really good team.”
Doncic came off what Kidd called a “human game” in which the sixth-year superstar had a triple-double but hit only 6 of 27 field-goal attempts in scoring 18 points for his lowest total since mid-November.
The Jazz were missing Jordan Clarkson, their No. 3 scorer. He sat out his fifth straight game because of a groin injury. The Mavericks played without Josh Green, who missed his third consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle.
UP NEXT
Jazz: At Houston on Saturday night.
Mavericks: At Utah on Monday night to begin a five-game road trip.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Walker Kessler vs. Daniel Gafford (Lauri Markkanen gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 |  | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point cutting layup (Keyonte George assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:29 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:26 | | Lauri Markkanen defensive rebound | ||
| 11:16 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point cutting dunk (Kris Dunn assists) | 4-0 |
| 11:04 | | Luka Doncic misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:59 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | +2 | Lauri Markkanen makes two point pullup jump shot (Walker Kessler assists) | 6-0 |
| 10:37 | | Taylor Hendricks shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | ||
| 10:37 | | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:37 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | +1 | Daniel Gafford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-1 |
| 10:24 | | Taylor Hendricks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:22 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 10:01 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:56 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | Walker Kessler offensive foul (Off the ball) (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 9:52 | | Walker Kessler turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:42 | | Luka Doncic turnover (lost ball) (Kris Dunn steals) | ||
| 9:24 | | +2 | Kris Dunn makes two point driving layup | 8-1 |
| 9:15 | | Daniel Gafford offensive foul (Off the ball) (Kris Dunn draws the foul) | ||
| 9:15 | | Daniel Gafford turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:06 | | Keyonte George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 9:00 | | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point running dunk (Kyrie Irving assists) | 8-3 |
| 8:37 | | Taylor Hendricks turnover (lost ball) (Luka Doncic steals) | ||
| 8:32 | | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point running layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 8-5 |
| 8:18 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:16 | | Derrick Jones Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:04 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 8-7 |
| 7:42 | | Lauri Markkanen misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:31 | | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 8-10 |
| 7:30 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:16 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving floating jump shot | 10-10 |
| 7:02 | | Walker Kessler personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 10-12 |
| 6:37 | | Collin Sexton turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 6:25 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:22 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | +2 | Taylor Hendricks makes two point cutting layup (Collin Sexton assists) | 12-12 |
| 5:47 | | Luka Doncic misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:45 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:39 | | Keyonte George misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 5:27 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:24 | | Luka Doncic offensive rebound | ||
| 5:19 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Taylor Hendricks defensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point reverse dunk (Collin Sexton assists) | 14-12 |
| 4:52 | | Kris Dunn personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 4:47 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Dereck Lively II assists) | 14-14 |
| 4:47 | | Taylor Hendricks shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 4:47 | | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-15 |
| 4:31 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Keyonte George assists) | 16-15 |
| 4:27 | | Dante Exum turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 4:27 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:14 | | Omer Yurtseven misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 4:11 | | Dante Exum defensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving layup | 16-17 |
| 3:46 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-17 |
| 3:27 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 18-19 |
| 3:14 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-19 |
| 2:57 | | Dante Exum turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 2:39 | | +2 | Lauri Markkanen makes two point pullup jump shot (Omer Yurtseven assists) | 22-19 |
| 2:28 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:25 | | Brice Sensabaugh defensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | Lauri Markkanen misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:00 | | Omer Yurtseven offensive rebound | ||
| 1:57 | | Brice Sensabaugh misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:54 | | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | ||
| 1:37 | | Johnny Juzang shooting foul (Dereck Lively II draws the foul) | ||
| 1:37 | | Dereck Lively II misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:37 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 1:37 | | Dereck Lively II misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:36 | | Maxi Kleber offensive rebound | ||
| 1:36 | | Omer Yurtseven personal foul (Maxi Kleber draws the foul) | ||
| 1:36 | | +1 | Maxi Kleber makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-20 |
| 1:36 | | Maxi Kleber misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:34 | | Omer Yurtseven defensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point pullup jump shot | 24-20 |
| 1:10 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | Dereck Lively II misses two point putback layup | ||
| 1:04 | | Brice Sensabaugh defensive rebound | ||
| 0:56 | | Lauri Markkanen misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:56 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 0:56 | | Maxi Kleber personal foul (Loose ball) (Omer Yurtseven draws the foul) | ||
| 0:44 | | Johnny Juzang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:41 | | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | +3 | Maxi Kleber makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 24-23 |
| 0:21 | | +3 | Lauri Markkanen makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 27-23 |
| 0:02 | | +3 | Jaden Hardy makes three point stepback jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 27-26 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaden Hardy assists) | 27-28 |
| 11:22 | | Lauri Markkanen misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:19 | | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | +3 | Maxi Kleber makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 27-31 |
| 10:48 | | Omer Yurtseven misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 10:44 | | Collin Sexton offensive rebound | ||
| 10:44 | | Collin Sexton misses two point putback layup | ||
| 10:43 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Jazz defensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | Daniel Gafford personal foul (Loose ball) (Micah Potter draws the foul) | ||
| 10:27 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:23 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Jaden Hardy misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | Johnny Juzang personal foul (Jaden Hardy draws the foul) | ||
| 9:57 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point pullup jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 27-33 |
| 9:32 | | Collin Sexton misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:28 | | Derrick Jones Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:21 | | Collin Sexton shooting foul (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 9:21 | | Derrick Jones Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:21 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 9:21 | | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-34 |
| 9:01 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:59 | | Mavericks defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:44 | | Johnny Juzang shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | ||
| 8:44 | | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:44 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:44 | | +1 | Daniel Gafford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-35 |
| 8:32 | | P.J. Washington personal foul (Lauri Markkanen draws the foul) | ||
| 8:22 | | P.J. Washington shooting foul (Lauri Markkanen draws the foul) | ||
| 8:22 | | +1 | Lauri Markkanen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-35 |
| 8:22 | | +1 | Lauri Markkanen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-35 |
| 8:12 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | ||
| 8:04 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:59 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | Kris Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Daniel Gafford steals) | ||
| 7:54 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point dunk | 29-37 |
| 7:44 | | Micah Potter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:42 | | Derrick Jones Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:39 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point running jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Micah Potter defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +2 | Micah Potter makes two point alley-oop dunk (Omer Yurtseven assists) | 31-37 |
| 7:26 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:12 | | Kris Dunn shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 7:12 | | Luka Doncic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:12 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 7:12 | | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-38 |
| 6:57 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Kris Dunn assists) | 33-38 |
| 6:47 | | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point cutting dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 33-40 |
| 6:29 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving finger roll layup (Kris Dunn assists) | 35-40 |
| 6:17 | | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point cutting layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 35-42 |
| 5:57 | | Kris Dunn misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:53 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | Luka Doncic misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:35 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 5:19 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kris Dunn assists) | 37-42 |
| 5:07 | | Kris Dunn personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 5:07 | | Luka Doncic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:07 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | Luka Doncic misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 5:05 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Taylor Hendricks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:46 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 4:36 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kris Dunn assists) | 39-42 |
| 4:19 | | Dante Exum misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:16 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | Keyonte George misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:11 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 4:11 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:56 | | Luka Doncic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:53 | | Collin Sexton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | Collin Sexton turnover (lost ball) (P.J. Washington steals) | ||
| 3:47 | | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point running pullup jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 39-45 |
| 3:23 | | Keyonte George turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:12 | | Maxi Kleber offensive foul (Off the ball) (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 3:12 | | Maxi Kleber turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 2:53 | | Keyonte George turnover (traveling) | ||
| 2:35 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:33 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 2:22 | | Collin Sexton misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:20 | | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Keyonte George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:16 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | |