Dallas Mavericks: The best defensive performance in a long time

The Dallas Mavericks just got done demolishing the Utah Jazz in one of the biggest wins I’ve ever seen. After allowing less than 100 points for two previous games, the Mavs put the icing on the cake by holding Utah to 68 points.

This is not the Dallas Mavericks team we watched struggle through the first 9 games of the season. The defensive tenacity last night was higher than I can honestly ever remember seeing it and the Mavs kept their foot on the gas throughout the whole game. The Utah Jazz never stood a chance.

Here are some of the crazy stats from that big win over the Jazz last night. Dallas outscored the Jazz by 50 points, making it the biggest win in Mavs history and the biggest loss for the Jazz since 1979 when they were still in New Orleans. They lost that game to the Milwaukee Bucks by 56 but at least managed to score 102.

The Jazz made only 25 field goals compared to the Mavs 45. Utah shot more than Dallas too, resulting in a shooting percentage of .312. They also shot only 17.1% from three-point, something the Mavs have struggled slowing other opponents down on. To make matters even worse, the Jazz shot 63% from free throw.

The Mavericks starters outscored the Jazz starters 52-47, led by 19 from Harrison Barnes and 11 from Ricky Rubio. The bench play was the clear difference in the game as the Mavs eight bench players combined for 66 with all eight guys getting at least 4 points. J.J. Barea, Dwight Powell and Dorian Finney-Smith all finished in double-digits. Utah’s bench finished with 21.

The rest of the stats went in the Mavs favor, too. Dallas won the battle in rebounds (51-33), assists (25-16), steals (12-11), blocks (5-3) and turnovers (19-21). Dallas put together some awesome defensive stops paired with big buckets that pulled the team away before the halftime show even started.

Perhaps the most telling numbers of the game were the 2nd half numbers. Dallas went into the third quarter with a 58-46 advantage after a deep step-back three from Luka at the buzzer. This play gave the Mavs some serious life and, after a lot of frustrating moments in the minutes before that, the Mavs were ready to impose their will.

They went on to limit the Jazz to 13 points in the third and only 9 points in the fourth. The 22 total points allowed in the half was the best in Mavs history and one of the lowest totals we have seen in a long time. The 68 points overall was the lowest of the season. The worst half in NBA history since the shot clock came around was 16 points.

Rick Carlisle recognized this game for what it was. In his post-game press conference, Carlisle noted that part of this was a fluke in that Utah usually shoots better and keeps their head on straight in games. He also said that no one can take away the impact the defense had on this game.

“I can’t remember a better defensive performance by any Mavericks team in 11 years.”

That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about what happened last night. The Mavs game was one that many of us will never forget, but that does not mean this is the new norm. Dallas is on a great run right now and looking to keep it going this Saturday against the defending champs.