Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks: Keys to the Game

Key Stat: Three-Point Percentage

The last time the Jazz faced off against the Mavericks, both teams shot an identical 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) from three-point land in what would eventually be a tightly contested overtime game. Had the Mavericks shot even slightly better and hit or exceeded their season average of 35.9 percent from deep, it could have been the difference in the game.

The Jazz, however, were under their season average as well. They are an even better 36.5 percent three-point shooting team for the year. Therefore, whoever breaks out and finds their shot from deep in this contest could very well find themselves with a critical advantage.

Utah has been red-hot from three on this current road trip as they went 38.5 percent as a team against Atlanta and 43.8 percent against New Orleans last night. The Jazz have also shot no worse than 37 percent in each of their last five contests.

Although they’ll be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Wednesday’s blowout win allowed them to limit the minutes of some of their key guys, so hopefully the Jazz will still be able to find their stroke and keep up that hot shooting to close out the three-game road stint.