After a quick trip north, the Dallas Mavericks were back on their home court on Sunday night and the trio of Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson and Reggie Bullock led the way for a double digit victory to bring their season win total to 46.
Coach Jason Kidd got huge production out of his guards in the victory. The duo of Doncic and Brunson made franchise history by becoming the first pair to put up 20 plus points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the same game. Luka had it going early from behind the arc and finished the night with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Brunson ended the night with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
In addition, Bullock provided a huge offensive spark by having his best game of the season, knocking down a season-high seven three-pointers, on the way to a season-high 23 points. The trio combined for 77 points as the Mavs defeated the Utah Jazz 114-100 at American Airlines Center. The Mavs are now 13-2 when Bullock hits four or more threes in a game.
In a battle between two teams likely headed for the postseason, it was no surprise that neither team could gain much separation early on. Dallas found themselves down six with five minutes left in the first, but Brunson got the Mavs going by finding Doncic for a 25-foot three pointer and then the next possession Brunson hit a pullup jumper to cut their deficit to one, 17-16. However, Utah took control over the closing minutes, finishing the quarter on a 12-5 run to take a 29-21 lead into the second.
Spencer Dinwiddie got Dallas going early in the second quarter, first by hitting a step back three-pointer, then finding Davis Bertans for a dunk. After a Mike Conley layup, Reggie Bullock hit one of his threes to pull the Mavs within two. But Utah reeled off another run, attacking the interior of the Dallas defense, when Rudy Gay drilled a three-pointer a little over halfway through the second, Utah had the first double digit lead of the game, up 46-35.
Dallas switched the momentum in the final minutes. Dorian Finney-Smith began a run by hitting a floater, then it was Doncic and Bullock that closed out the half strong. Bullock was 3-of-3 from behind the arc and finished the half with 14 points. Doncic scored six of his 21 first half points in the final minute and ended the half by using fancy handles to create enough separation to hit a 28-foot stepback jumper at the buzzer to pull the Mavs within one, 59-58, at halftime.
The momentum was still on Dallas’ side coming out of the locker room and they showed it by starting the third quarter on a 18-6 run to take the lead and grew their own double digit advantage. Doncic continued to control the offense by getting to the charity stripe after finishing contested layups and ended the quarter by finding Dinwiddie for a layup. Dallas also played tighter defense and outscored Utah 32-20 in the third to take a 90-79 lead into the fourth. After the game, Coach Kidd discussed the adjustments made in the second half to pull away from Utah.
“I think once we found the pace, we started not to hold the ball,” Coach Kidd said. “We started to move the ball and we started to get open looks… The adjustment was just our pace offensively. Being able to get stops and take the three out of the game.”
Utah found it difficult to cut their deceit with the Mavs answering every basket. Halfway through the fourth, Bullock was able to seal the game with timely three-pointers. Four minutes into the frame, DFS secured an offensive rebound and kicked it back out to Bullock who drilled the shot. After a Jordan Clarkson three, Maxi Kleber found Bullock for another three pointer to make it 105-88 with seven and a half minutes remaining. Though Utah tried to push back into the game, Dallas held on and secured a
114-100 win. Coach Kidd acknowledged the team’s playmaking on both ends of the court, as well as their thought process now being the current fourth seed in the Western Conference.
“We haven’t done anything. Our next opponent is the Lakers and that’s all we’re focused on,” Coached Kidd said. “We did what we had to do today and that was to protect [our] home.”