Kyrie Irving delivered an electrifying performance with 30 points, leading the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to a 106-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Quentin Grimes added a crucial 24 points as Dallas overcame the absence of Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, and Dante Exum.
The Mavericks jumped to an early lead, fueled by Grimes hitting four 3-pointers in the first quarter, and maintained control throughout. Despite missing key players, Dallas shot an impressive 9-for-13 from beyond the arc in the opening period and held off Utah’s attempts at a comeback.
P.J. Washington recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Daniel Gafford added 14 points off the bench. Dallas (12-8) showed resilience in its fourth win in five games, continuing to thrive without Doncic.
Utah, now 4-15, struggled offensively, shooting just 35.8% from the field. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 19 points, while Walker Kessler contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. However, Utah’s poor shooting from deep, hitting only 9 of 39 attempts, hampered their efforts.
After seeing their 20-point first-quarter lead cut to five early in the fourth, Irving returned to steady the Mavericks. He sank a pivotal 3-pointer, then followed it with a steal and an assist to Grimes, extending Dallas’ lead to 10 with just over six minutes remaining.
Grimes finished the game with five 3-pointers but struggled at the free-throw line, going 1-for-6. Despite his struggles, he proved instrumental in maintaining Dallas’ offensive rhythm.
The Jazz showed flashes of energy, particularly from Kessler and Markkanen, but turnovers and missed opportunities hindered their ability to close the gap. Keyonte George added eight assists but shot just 1-for-8 from the floor.
