Dallas Mavericks Look to Build Some Momentum Against Jazz Before Break

The Dallas Mavericks could use some momentum heading into the All-Star break, and getting a win over the streaking Utah Jazz would give it to them.

The Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz are two clubs heading in different directions at the moment. Dallas, after a surprisingly strong start to the season, has been in a bit of a lull recently due to a combination of rough schedule and shooting woes. Their overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday gave the Mavericks their first win of February and was the first time the team cracked the 100-point threshold in five games. Utah, on the other hand, comes in to Tuesday’s game winners of six straight and have crept back into the playoff picture.

This is an important game for the Mavericks, their final contest before a nice, long break from basketball. A win over the Jazz would give Dallas a little momentum before a more kind stretch of their schedule, and put a little more room between themselves and the surging Jazz in the standings.

But it won’t be easy against the unforgiving Utah defense. Led by their rim-protecting behemoth Rudy Gobert, the Jazz are giving up just 95.9 points per game. They’ve been even better recently, allowing just 85 points a night to opponents during their six-game streak. That imposing defense is tough under normal circumstances, downright scary for a slumping offensive team like the Mavericks.

As mentioned, Dallas has had a hard time putting the ball in the basket recently. In their last six games the team has shot just 41.5% from the floor and 33% from long range. Shooting guard Wesley Matthews has had an especially rough go of it, failing to shoot 50% or better from the floor in his last 12 contests. In that span he’s connecting on just 35% of his field goals and 28.4% of his 5.6 three-point attempts.

The good news for Dallas is that while Utah boasts the NBA’s second-stingiest scoring defense, they’re the fifth-worst offensive team in the league at 97.4 points a night.

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Deron Williams had 23 points and 8 assists in his first matchup against the team that drafted him this season, and he should have a fun showdown with the suddenly capable offensively Raul Neto.

Another intriguing matchup is at the small forward position between Chandler Parsons and Gordon Hayward. We all know how good Parsons has been as of late, but Hayward has been good all season. He’s gone for 22.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in his last 10 games.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: Week 15 Game Changer Report

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