It was dunks galore at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where the Mavericks set a new franchise high and NBA-season high of 18 dunks to see off the Utah Jazz 113-97 and move into sixth in the Western Conference on Thursday.
The Mavericks, who now occupy the last automatic playoff spot in the West, overtook the 17 dunks the Los Angeles Lakers had against the Jazz in November 2023.
18 dunks. A new franchise record ????#MFFL pic.twitter.com/95jDN1XOyT
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 22, 2024
Dallas made it three straight wins, losing only one of their last eight games to improve to a 41-29 win-loss record for the season as they continue to push for a guaranteed playoff position.
DUB. MAVS WIN!!!@Chime // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/56VXcHuhWn
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 22, 2024
Luka Doncic had 34 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists for his 18th triple-double this season. The Slovenian shot 11 of 23 from the floor and 4 of 10 on 3s, along with scoring 8 of his 12 free throw attempts.
Despite missing the second half of the second quarter, Daniel Gafford, who moved to the Mavericks in February, was 10 of 11 from the floor, including ending with ten dunks, to finish with 24 points and 7 rebounds.
Eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and seven assists, scoring 11 points in the second half, while Derrick Jones Jr. ended with 12 points for Jason Kidd’s side, who will face the Jazz again on Monday at the Delta Center in Utah in the second game of their double-header.
Finnish star Lauri Markkanen, who has missed their last seven games due to a quadriceps injury, led the Jazz with 21 points; Colin Sexton added 20 points off the bench; Keyonte George (18 points) and Walker Kessler (14 points and 9 rebounds) combined for 32 points for Utah as they slipped to their fourth straight defeat.
