Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Friday November 15, 2024 at 8:22 a.m.
Utah won its first victory at home by defeating Dallas by a score of 115-113 thanks in particular to 28 points from John Collins.
For once, only one game was on the night’s schedule in the NBA, and it pitted one of the weakest teams in the West, Utah, against the defending finalist, Dallas. And in front of its 18,175 fans, the Jazz won their first home victory of the season, the third in total, to find themselves penultimate in the West, overtaking New Orleans. The Salt Lake City players won 115-113 against the Mavs, twelfth, who are sinking a little into crisis with this fourth defeat in a row, the fourth with a difference of three points or less. In this meeting with nine changes of leader, Dallas (deprived of Kyrie Irving, injured in the shoulder) generally dominated the first half, having an eight point lead in the eighth minute, but only one at the end of the first quarter (27-28) and three when returning to the locker room (61-64). At the restart, the Mavs led 65-71, before twice suffering a 9-0 in the heart of the third quarter (81-73 then 90-78). Twelve minutes from the end, the Jazz led 99-85, but Dallas didn’t give up and reduced the gap little by little, to equalize at 108-108 at 2’15 from the end on a 3-point shot by Luka Doncic!
A dunk from Collins to conclude
But as against Phoenix (113-114), against Denver (122-120) and against Golden State (120-117), the 2024 vice-champions mismanaged the money-time. Derek Lively II and Jordan Clarkson answered each other to make the score 110-110. Clarkson added a free throw and John Collins a dunk (113-110), but Klay Thompson tied the Texans by scoring three points 27 seconds from the buzzer (113-113). And it was finally Collins, Jazz’s top scorer (28pts at 10/20 on shots and 9rbs), who offered victory to his team thanks to a dunk on a magnificent pass from Clarkson six seconds from the endNaji Marshall’s shot at the buzzer for Dallas not even hitting the basket. Utah doesn’t give it a little breathing room before going to Sacramento on Saturday. The Mavs, despite Luka Doncic’s 37 points (4/13 at 3pts), lost another close match. And on Saturday, a derby against San Antonio awaits them.
