by Alma Bean
Feature Image: Photo by Ryan Sun of Deseret News.
The Utah Jazz (27-27) looks to get a leg up in the season series in their third meeting against the short-handed Dallas Mavericks (28-26).
What to Look For
This game won’t jump out as a marquee matchup with the number of injuries and recent trades, but this will be a good game for development on both sides. Dallas executing a blockbuster trade to get arguably one of the best guards in the NBA in Kyrie Irving, will hurt them for this game since they will be down to 11 players including their two-way players. With the players that are listed on the injury report, Dallas will be without 73.1 points, 22.4 rebounds, and 17.5 assists. Dallas is currently averaging 112.3 PPG, 38.6 RPG, and 21.9 APG and will need to rely on guys like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood if they want to keep things close.
Key of the Game
Drive to the paint. With Dallas being shorthanded, Utah will have the advantage of being able to drive into the paint since Dallas will need to be more cautious about fouling. After a rookiesque performance from Walker Kessler on Friday, this will be a game for him to take command in the paint. Even in his previous matchup against Dallas, Kessler put up 14/11/2 along with five blocks. Expect a similar performance from Kessler with Dallas’ depleted roster.
Injury Report
Dallas- Davis Bertans: Out (calf), Spencer Dinwiddie: Out (traded to Brooklyn), Luka Doncic: Out (heel), Dorian Finney-Smith: Out (traded to Brooklyn), Kyrie Irving: Out (traded to Dallas), Maxi Kleber: Out (hamstring), Markieff Morris: Out (traded to Dallas), Frank Ntilikina: Questionable (non-COVID illness)
Utah- Johnny Juzang: Out (G League), Micah Potter: Out (elbow), Jarred Vanderbilt: Questionable (back)
Where to Watch
Tip-off between Dallas and Utah will be at 7:00 p.m. MT on AT&T SportsNet.