Jazz Host Mavericks In Potential Playoff Preview
Feb 25, 2022, 12:50 PM
Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket past Theo Pinson #1 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of their game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 25, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks are about to see a whole lot more of one another, and it may carry over into the first round of the playoffs.
The Jazz host the Mavericks at Vivint Arena on Friday night in the first of three meetings over the next 30 days.
And, if the current Western Conference seeding holds steady, the Jazz and Mavericks will face one another in the first round of the playoffs in April.
Jazz Get Tough Test To Open Second Half
After winning six of their final seven contests heading into the All-Star break, the Jazz will get two tough tests right out of the gate against the Mavericks on Friday and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Of the Jazz’s previous six wins, only one came against a team poised to open the playoffs with home-court advantage. Their wins over the Denver Nuggets and Brookyln Nets count as playoff opponents, though both teams were significantly shorthanded when they met.
The @utahjazz have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA.
Here's a look at what the final 24 opponents hold for the Jazz. #takenote https://t.co/whHmViLxZ4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 23, 2022
The Jazz had the second-best offense and the third-best defense in the NBA over the final seven games before the All-Star break and will look to build on that success against Dallas.
The team should be the healthiest it’s been so far in 2022 with only Rudy Gay (doubtful) and Jared Butler on the injured list.
A Newly Retooled Mavericks Roster
The Mavericks made one of the more surprising moves at the trade deadline sending former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
Dinwiddie gives superstar Luka Doncic another playmaker in the backcourt while Bertans will allow the Maverics to space the floor around their talented guard rotation.
This is a work of art 🎨🖼️ pic.twitter.com/w2GphnPKkC
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 18, 2022
Doncic has been on a tear over the last 10 games averaging a staggering 35.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.
The Mavericks are 7-3 over the stretch and sit just 1.5 games back of the Jazz for the fourth seed in the West.
Broadcast
The Jazz and Mavericks will tip-off at 7 pm MT and can be heard on The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.
