Not much has gone right for the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericksthis week. Thursday night, their luck changed. Since having their season-high five-game win streak snapped, the Mavericks had suffered back-to-back losses in Los Angeles on game-deciding 3-pointers. The team also lost swingman Vince Carter for an unknown amount of time after the eight-time All-Star suffered a mild sprain of his left foot on the final play of Monday night’s 73-70 loss to the L.A. Lakers.
Looking to get back on track a night after a heartbreaking 91-89 defeat to the Clippers to fall to 0-2 on their current four-game road trip, the Mavs limped into EnergySolutions Arena Thursday night for a battle with former point guard Devin Harris and the Utah Jazz, who was without the services of fellow ex-Maverick Josh Howard due to a quadriceps injury. And with his team set to face a Jazz squad that entered the game 7-1 at home this season, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle preached to his players the importance of putting the past two losses out of their minds with a positive showing in a hostile venue.
“It’s a very challenging game,” Carlisle said before the matchup. “And we’re gonna have to play hard, smart and efficient.”
After those words the Mavs would play inspiring basketball from the opening tipoff. And after winning both games on Utah’s home floor last year, the Mavericks (9-7) would indeed continue that trend, downing the Jazz with a 94-91 road victory.
The Mavericks would take heed to their coach’s words in the opening minutes of the first quarter, coming out of the gates strong with an 11-0 run to take a quick 13-6 advantage. The Jazz (9-5) would then close the gap before the end of the period, but not before a combined 12 points between Dirk Nowitzki and Delonte West brought the Mavs to a 25-22 lead after one.
The duo of Nowitzki and newcomer Lamar Odom would get the Mavs started in the second stanza, widening the separation between the two teams. After the Jazz charged back within one, however, it would be third-year guard Rodrigue Beaubois and four-time All-Star Shawn Marion that would rise to the occasion for the Mavs as the advantage grew to double figures.
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