The Mavericks are heading for fourth place in the Western Conference. There are still a few games left, but the fight at the end of the regular phase seems to be that. Maintaining that position, which gives you the option of having the court factor in your favor in the first round, is the priority now. But it was more important to do it at the same time as hitting the right table. It is that of the Jazz, the fifth classified and the team that they can face in that initial tie if they maintain the aforementioned positions. A growing rivalry, supported by a Doncic-Gobert pique in which the Frenchman was not a participant on this occasion due to a blow to his right leg, in which each side has won two of the regular season. The two have evolved, up and down, in recent months, a Dallas with more visible changes in the squad and from less to more and a Utah more sustained over time and from more to less. The candy is already in the mouths of the fans and only time and the other results will tell if they will be able to taste it.
Doncic was a perfect leader, not only with his 32 points but also giving the necessary shots to Bullock (23) and space to Brunson (22).. Both are capital. Rudy Gay, with 18 points, was the leading scorer for the Jazz. The final result was 114-100.
The Mavericks also know that home court has become important if the matchup is going to be this one. In the four games between them and the Jazz this season, the home team has always won, two and two, so having one more local date seems crucial to be able to pass that test. Dallas, since Doncic has been here, has lost in the first round of the playoffs and both times it has been against the same rival: Clippers. The Jazz remain fifth, but the Nuggets are sixth and the Timberwolves are seventh and there is a victory difference between each one, but not between the Warriors and the Mavericks for a third place that puts Jason’s team two away Kidd. tight area. The shock, for now, would be the one seen at the American Airlines Center tonight on Sunday.