The Utah Jazz are on the hunt for their first win of the season as they hit the road to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday evening. After a 127-86 home defeat to the Golden State Warriors, Jazz coach Will Hardy opted for a film review session on Saturday instead of practice. The 41-point loss was the second-worst home defeat in franchise history.
Hardy emphasized the need for his team to play with competitiveness and urgency, pointing out that no Jazz player committed a foul during Golden State’s 38-point third quarter. Lauri Markkanen, who leads the Jazz with a 24-point scoring average, struggled against the Warriors, shooting just 4-for-17 for 13 points.
The Mavericks, who won their season opener against the San Antonio Spurs, lost 114-102 on the road to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Phoenix led after the first period and maintained their lead, with Dallas coming as close as 68-67 in the third quarter. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd noted that his team committed too many fouls, allowing Phoenix 37 free-throw attempts and a 28-15 advantage from the line.
Dallas saw strong performances from its top three players: Luka Doncic scored a game-high 40 points with 10 rebounds, Kyrie Irving added 22 points and five assists, and newcomer Klay Thompson contributed 19 points, hitting 5 of 12 three-pointers. However, no other Mavericks player scored more than seven points. Doncic, last season’s scoring champion, is currently tied with Atlanta’s Trae Young and Los Angeles Laker Anthony Davis, all averaging 34 points per game.
Both teams will be looking to address their weaknesses and secure a win in Monday’s matchup.
