The Dallas Mavericks have passed the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2011. In Game 6 with the Utah Jazz nothing works in the first half, but then Luka Doncic and his teammates raise the fire and win a thriller with 98:96 at the lake savory.
Utah Jazz (5) v Dallas Mavericks (4) 96:98 (BOXSCORE), Series: 2-4
The Texans broke their playoff curse and Doncic won a playoff series for the first time in his career. “It’s great, I’m really happy to have made it through the first round. The last two years have been tough, but we learned something from last year. It was a bad game. Utah broke their asses and they are a strong team. I’m glad we got through a round. “
In the end it was a real headache, perhaps decided by a major mistake in the last few seconds. Gobert got the hosts to the point with a layup about 36 seconds left (97:96), in return, a Doncic float bounced off the Frenchman’s outstretched arm and only bounced in the ring. With eleven seconds left, Quin Snyder decided to avoid a timeout and let the game go.
However, the Jazz have not even made it to the shot, after a mistake by Mike Conley in passing, the Mavs have regained possession. Jalen Brunson missed a free throw, giving Utah another chance to win. In the remaining four seconds, Utah first managed to give Bojan Bogdanovic plenty of room with several screens, who then let Spencer Dinwiddie pass with a fake shot – but the Croatian’s triple bounced back into the ring.
Doncic and his defensive mate Brunson were the top scorers of the Mavs with 24 points each, the Slovenian also contributed 9 rebounds and 8 assists and scored a triple double. Spencer Dinwiddie played a strong game from the bench (19 points) and Dorian Finney-Smith (18) was also convincing. Maxi Kleber scored 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes. The hosts also scored from more shoulders, Donovan Mitchell was the most successful pitcher (23 points), followed by Bogdanovic (19) and Jordan Clarkson (15).
The first 12 minutes were a normal defensive battle with both teams less than 40% off the pitch. The Mavericks started cold as ice from the center (0/10 3FG), the only positive point in attack was Brunson (9 points, 4/6 FG). Mitchell soon found his rhythm with the hosts (9, 4/7 FG), but in the end both teams played next to nothing together in attack – 9.15pm Jazz.
The Mavericks rev up after the break
The Mavs equalized early in the second quarter (22:22) when the orange skin finally found its way through the net more regularly (10/21 FG). But the hosts also turned the ball around (11 assists), pulled out more open looks and fared better (13/20 FG). Utah scored 18-5 before half-time tea, bench scoring (17-10) and rebounding (26-17) advantages put the Jazz up 12 points at half time.
The third quarter belonged exclusively to the Mavericks. After a strong movement of the ball, Dinwiddie scored a three in the basket and crowned an 8-0 run by the Mavs. Jazz coach Quin Snyder’s subsequent timeout had no effect, the guests continued to score at will and took the lead after another triple Dinwiddie (72:70), the Texans’ long-range shot at this stage looked like a flamethrower (8/12 3FG). Doncic played the full 12 minutes and fueled the Mavericks run with 10 points and a block against Gobert, from Utah’s point of view he went into the final section with -5 (72:77).
In the final rounds, both teams exchanged shots openly, with Dallas often patiently playing the ball around the perimeter until an open triple popped up. Kleber, Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith all sank major hits, but the Jazz continued to respond. Bogdanovic equalizes with a triple about two and a half minutes from the final siren (94:94), Brunson responds from the other side, always from the center (97:94).
In the final rounds, both teams exchanged shots openly, with Dallas often patiently playing the ball around the perimeter until an open triple popped up. Kleber, Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith all sank major hits, but the Jazz continued to respond. Bogdanovic equalizes with a triple about two and a half minutes from the final siren (94:94), Brunson provides the answer from the other side, always from the center (97:94), Gobert reduces to -1 with a layup and delivers one on the defensive strong shooting match against Doncic. Instead of taking a break, Jazz lost the ball to Conley. Ultimately it was the decisive scene of the match, although the scene would likely have been forgotten if Bogdanovic had welded the three through the trap.
The Mavericks now face the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the playoffs. They finished the regular season with the best league record, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 4-2 in their first-round series. Devin Booker returned there in the last game after suffering a hamstring injury and should be available against the Mavs as well. Race 1 takes place on Tuesday evening at 4:00 German time.
NBA Playoffs – Mavericks vs. Jazz: the series at a glance (4-2)
| Spiel | Given | time | Heim | Street | result |
| 1 | 16. April | 19 o’clock | Dallas Maverick | Utah Jazz | 93:99 |
| 2 | 19. April | 2:30 | Dallas Maverick | Utah Jazz | 110: 104 |
| 3 | 22. April | 3 o’clock | Utah Jazz | Dallas Maverick | 118: 126 |
| 4 | 23. April | At 10.30pm | Utah Jazz | Dallas Maverick | 100: 99 |
| 5 | 26. April | 3:30 | Dallas Maverick | Utah Jazz | 102: 77 |
| 6 | 29. April | 4 o’clock | Utah Jazz | Dallas Maverick | 96:98 |
