The Dallas Mavericks suffered a stunning 115-113 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite a stellar performance from Luka Dončić, who finished with 37 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, the Mavs fell to a Jazz team that entered the night last in the Western Conference with a 2-8 record.
The Mavericks were without Kyrie Irving, their second-leading scorer (25.2 PPG), due to a right shoulder strain. However, the Jazz were also shorthanded late, as star forward Lauri Markkanen exited with seven-and-a-half minutes remaining after taking an accidental hit to the face from Naji Marshall. Postgame reports indicated that Markkanen avoided serious injury.
Utah forward John Collins led the way for the Jazz with 28 points, including the game-winning basket off a Jordan Clarkson assist with 6.4 seconds left. Clarkson added 20 points and six assists, playing a key role in the clutch.
The Jazz dominated the third quarter, outscoring Dallas 38-21, and took a 101-85 lead early in the fourth. The Mavericks mounted a furious comeback, with Marshall scoring 10 of his 19 points in the final frame. Dereck Lively II’s alley-oop dunk, courtesy of a Dončić assist, gave Dallas a 110-108 edge late.
However, Utah responded with a Clarkson three-point play and a Collins tip dunk to regain the lead at 113-110. Klay Thompson, who had 17 points despite an off-shooting night (6-of-17), nailed a clutch three-pointer to tie the game. But Collins and Clarkson sealed the Jazz victory in the final moments.
The Mavericks, last season’s Western Conference champions, now find themselves in 12th place in the conference with a 5-7 record. While the losses have been close, the team has struggled to close out games. Dončić’s brilliance has not been enough, as the Mavs continue to grapple with defensive lapses and inconsistent performances from supporting players.
The schedule only gets tougher, with matchups against the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets looming. Before that, Dallas will host the San Antonio Spurs and their rising star Victor Wembanyama, fresh off a career-high 50-point performance.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the team’s urgency postgame. “We’re close, but close doesn’t count. We’ve got to figure out how to finish games,” Kidd said.
With mounting criticism from fans and analysts, the Mavericks must find a way to halt their skid before it derails their season. Saturday’s clash against the Spurs offers a chance to reset, but it won’t come easy against the red-hot Wembanyama.
