Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz came through in the clutch to outlast the Dallas Mavericks despite a big-time effort from J.J. Barea.
Before Saturday night’s bout between the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks, the rookie battle undoubtedly occupied center stage. And rightfully so — Donovan Mitchell and Dennis Smith Jr. are already cornerstone pieces for their respective squads and the former edged out the latter in the Slam Dunk Contest just one week ago.
However, while Mitchell was his usual, spectacular self against the Mavs, it was another player who stepped to the forefront for Rick Carlisle’s team on Saturday. Namely, noted Jazz-killer J.J. Barea.
Ultimately, the Jazz were able to hang on for a 97-90 victory and get back on the winning track after having an 11-game streak snapped by the Portland Trail Blazers less than 24 hours earlier. But Barea didn’t make it easy.
Starting for the fourth time in six games, the 33-year-old had notched a double-double before the final carom had even begun. He finished the night with a team-high 17 points, adding 12 dimes and three boards.
With just over five minutes left, he banked a fadeaway jumper that gave Dallas a lead at 87-85. But the Jazz band busted an 8-0 run in short order to wrest control of the contest.
https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/967613018686111744
On the eve of the NBA trade deadline, I joked that the Jazz should make a play for Barea, if for no other reason than to keep him from going bananas against them. “He always seems to light the Jazz up, hit clutch shots against them and/or act as a pest in general every time his teams are on the docket.”
Once again, Barea unleashed the barrage here. It was the ninth time he’s scored 15 or more points against the Jazz despite just four career starts and 21 minutes per game in head-to-head match-ups over his career.
Meanwhile, Smith scuffled in an off-ball roll. He scored seven points on just 2-of-11 shooting and the Mavs were outscored by 21 when he was on the floor.
Mitchell equaled Rudy Gobert with a team best plus-16 for Utah and scored 25 points in the game. He also added six rebounds, five assists and two steals. His case for Rookie of the Year of the year honors is growing by the game.
How to close a quarter: By Donovan Mitchell https://t.co/5YcqRyeDUO
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2018
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Both teams struggled to shoot the ball in the game. The Jazz were able to make hey down low, though, outscoring the Mavs 46-30 in the paint. They were also plus-eight in transition scoring.
With the win, the Jazz improved to 31-29 on the season. They’re currently just two games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the West’s No. 8 seed.
Next up for the team is a home showdown with James Harden and the Houston Rockets. The game tips off at 7 PM MT on Monday, February 26.