Davis Bertans returns to lineup with dunk as Mavericks defeat Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks dominated the final three quarters to defeat the Utah Jazz on March 27 as they jumped up to fourth in the Western Conference. They are now one game up on the Jazz with seven to go in the regular season. Luka Doncic led the way with 32 points as the Mavs got another piece of their rotation back on Sunday night.

Davis Bertans returned after a three-game absence because of knee soreness. The 6’10 forward came off the bench and almost immediately made an impact, but it was in a different way than expected against the Jazz.

Bertans looked healthy and ready to contribute as he threw down a dunk just minutes after entering the contest. Here is a look at his performance, and why he could be a key contributor for the Mavs in the postseason.

Davis Bertans throws down dunk in return to lineup as Mavericks defeat Jazz

Bertans is a career 39.6 percent 3-point shooter, and his ability to space the floor can be game-changing, but it was just his ninth dunk of the season that got fans out of their seats on Sunday night. See the transition slam below.

Bertans played 16 minutes off the bench in his return and scored six points on two of four shooting from the field. He also had two rebounds and one steal as he failed to make his lone 3-point attempt. It was good to see the 6’10 forward back on the floor, and he has plenty of time to find his rhythm before the playoffs begin on April 16.

The Dallas Mavericks need shooters around superstar Luka Doncic, and Davis Bertans is one of their best. Will he be able to hold his own on the defensive end of the floor to stay in the lineup? Expect Mavs head coach Jason Kidd to use Bertans as a change of pace option in the postseason as Dallas looks to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2011.

The Mavericks are a dangerous team, and fans won’t want to miss a second of the action, so stay tuned.