Salt Lake City, UT (SportsNetwork.com) – Dallas’ revamped offense impressed
throughout the first week of the NBA season, but it was humbled Thursday night
in Portland.
The Mavericks bounced back on Friday night.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Mavericks routed the Utah
Jazz, 105-82, on Friday night.
Tyson Chandler posted 15 points and 13 boards and Monta Ellis tallied 13
points, six assists and three steals for the Mavericks, who suffered a 108-87
loss against the Blazers.
After leading the NBA with 111.8 points per game and a 52.4 percent field-goal
percentage through its first four games, Dallas shot just 36.7 percent and was
5-of-23 from beyond the arc Thursday.
The Mavs shot 47.7 percent (42-of-88) from the floor Friday.
Alec Burks netted 14 points to lead Utah, which was coming off Gordon
Hayward’s buzzer-beating win over Cleveland Wednesday.
Trevor Booker sunk two free throws to get the Jazz within 24-23 early in the
second, but the Mavericks responded with a 15-2 run to seize control of the
contest.
Nowitzki netted seven points during the surge, which was capped on Monta
Ellis’ jumper for a 39-25 advantage midway through the frame.
Dallas led 52-44 at the break and put the game away in the early stages of the
third.
Nowitzki nailed a 3-pointer to begin a 9-0 spurt and two Chandler Parsons free
throws finished it and made it 61-44.
Nowitzki’s jumper at the third-quarter horn gave Dallas a 78-62 cushion
heading into the fourth, where they led by as many as 25 before cruising to
the easy triumph.
Game Notes
The Mavericks scored 32 points off 23 Utah turnovers … Dallas was 12-of-14
from the foul line … Dallas held a 15-6 margin in second-chance points …
Hayward had 12 points and five boards.
