3 takeaways from Dallas Mavericks Game 3 playoff win over Jazz in Utah

The Dallas Mavericks went into Salt Lake City and defeated the Utah Jazz 126-118 in Game 3 as superstar Luka Doncic missed his third straight game with a calf strain. It was an incredible performance as the Mavs shot the ball well and grabbed the 2-1 edge in their first-round playoff series. 

Jalen Brunson followed his historic performance in the Game 2 win with another incredible showing. He suffered a back injury in the second quarter, but it barely slowed him down as the 6’1 guard went off for 31 points on 12 of 22 shooting from the field in Game 3. JB led the way, but it took a team effort to win in Utah.

It was an exhilarating game on Thursday night as the Mavericks grabbed the edge in the series. Dallas dominated the first half, but the Jazz got back into the game with a 40-point third quarter before the Mavericks shut their water off in the fourth. There were plenty of takeaways from the Mavs upset win in Game 3.

3 takeaways from Dallas Mavericks Game 3 playoff win over Jazz in Utah

The Jazz shot 56.5 percent from the field in Game 3, but it was not enough as the Mavericks continued to give them twos. Utah was second in the league in 3-point attempts this season, but Dallas limited them to just 28 in Game 3 to continue the math edge they have used in the series. Expect the Mavs to limit their threes and keep playing small even when Luka Doncic returns.

Dallas evened the rebounding at 32 apiece in Game 3. Utah had a massive edge in the first two games, but the Jazz went small in the third quarter to get back into the contest. It cost them one of their biggest advantages in the series and resulted in a second straight Utah loss.

The Dallas Mavericks were outstanding again in Game 3, and here are the three biggest takeaways for fans from the victory.

Takeaway from Dallas Mavericks Game 3 playoff win over Jazz: 3. Bench gets hot

The Mavs are going to play Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Reggie Bullock, and Dorian Finney-Smith massive minutes in this series, but head coach Jason Kidd is looking for their fifth player to trust while Luka Doncic is out. Dwight Powell has continued to start, but he has been limited in the series without the 23-year-old superstar to feed him lob passes.

Kidd cycled through his center options in Game 1 before Maxi Kleber caught fire in Game 2 and made eight 3-pointers. The Hall of Fame point guard did not know who to play in Game 3 because three of his options got hot, including Kleber, who had 17 points on six of seven shooting from the field.

Davis Bertans played 14 minutes off the bench and scored 15 points, including drilling four 3-pointers. The 6’10 forward struggles on the defensive end of the floor, but his floor spacing can be game-changing in short bursts.

Josh Green also nailed three wide-open triples on his way to 12 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 19 minutes of action. The Mavericks kept Green on the move as he had his most effective game in the series.

If the Dallas Mavericks have multiple options off the bench making shots, they are going to be a difficult team to defeat in the postseason.

Takeaway from Dallas Mavericks Game 3 playoff win over Jazz: 2. Answering small ball

The Mavericks continue to have success in the series by going small and spreading the floor with shooters. It led Dallas to a 41-point second quarter and had them up 17 at the half, so the Jazz gave the Mavs a taste of their own medicine. They put Eric Paschall at the five and spread out Dallas to get back into the game as Utah used a strong 14-point run over the last four minutes to close out a 40-point third quarter.

The Jazz went back to Rudy Gobert in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks have not seen the last of that small ball look. Utah had success spacing the floor, and it allowed Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic to get going. Mitchell had 18 in the third and Bogi dropped 12 to get Utah back within six to start the fourth.

The Jazz were outscored by 16 with Gobert on the floor in Game 3, and Hassan Whiteside was limited to just seven minutes. Could Utah coach Quinn Snyder gamble on sitting his All-Star center for an extended stretch in Game 4 to try to get the Jazz back in the series?

The Dallas Mavericks will be more prepared for the small ball looks on Saturday afternoon, but that does not mean they will be able to slow the Jazz down. It is something to watch as the series progresses.

Takeaway from Dallas Mavericks Game 3 playoff win over Jazz: 1. No stopping JB

Jalen Brunson was arguably the best player on the court for the second straight game in this series as he went off for 31 points and five assists in 35 minutes of action. He became the seventh Maverick in franchise history to have back-to-back 30-point playoff games, and he was just the sixth player in the NBA since 1978 to have 72-plus points and one or fewer turnover in two straight postseason contests.

The Mavericks held a double-digit lead in the second quarter, but things looked bleak after JB went down with a back injury. He went to the locker room, and everyone was fearing he would not be able to return, but Brunson came back in the second half and had 17 points to lift Dallas into the lead in the series.

JB has made himself a lot of money in the first three games against the Jazz, and he looks unstoppable right now. Utah has no answers for him. They have tried multiple defenders, but Brunson just uses his quickness and footwork to get some space and score. It has been incredible to watch, and the Jazz show no signs of slowing him down.

The Dallas Mavericks are back in action on Saturday afternoon for Game 4, and Marc Stein reported the team plans to bring Luka Doncic back for that contest. Fans do not want to miss a second of their basketball right now, so be sure to tune in and enjoy the show with or without number 77 on the floor.