Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie made an immediate impact in his return to the lineup Saturday, helping fuel a decisive win, according to Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com.
Christie had missed the previous two games while dealing with an illness that affected several players on the roster, but his energy was evident right away.
The 22-year-old finished with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, along with four assists, two rebounds and two steals in just 26 minutes, posting a plus-29 in Dallas’ 18-point victory over the Utah Jazz.
Head coach Jason Kidd highlighted Christie’s value on both ends of the floor, noting that his absence was felt beyond scoring.
“He’s one of our best shooters and most athletic guys, so offensively, he helps us there,” Kidd said. “But we missed him on the defensive end, too. To get him back from illness is good.
“He just competes (defensively). He’s one of those guys who can go both ways. He can have an impact on defense, too.”
Max Christie's return on Saturday helped give the Mavs a spark. More: https://t.co/uf5ubDySh0
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 19, 2026
