DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks take on the Utah Jazz at 8:00 p.m. CT Wednesday on KFAA! Not sure how to watch? Here's a breakdown on how to tune in – and guarantee you get the clearest signal possible of the broadcast.
A one-point, two-point, and three-point loss saw the Dallas Mavericks go 0-for during their current stretch against Western Conference teams in the first real trying days of the 2024-25 season for the reigning conference champs.
With the losing streak, the Mavericks’ overall record dipped below .500 at 5-6 which has them languishing in the lower third of the conference as they finished their third week of action. The positive takeaway is the fact that the team is clearly talented enough to hang with the top teams in the conference despite the final tally.
After starting the season 3-1, the Mavs have lost five of their last seven with the three-game losing skid coming in close losses to the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors, each by a single possession.
The loss to the Warriors especially stung as Klay Thompson’s emotional return to the Bay provided his best performance since opening night. Thompson fed off the energy and went 6-of-12 from deep, finishing with 22 points as Dallas built a late lead that didn’t hold as the Warriors outscored the Mavs 12-3 in the final three minutes.
Thompson nearly had the perfect homecoming, had it not been for his splash brother Steph Curry inserting the dagger to put Dallas away.
One of the reasons for the inability to close out fellow contenders has been the slow start from Luka Doncic from beyond the arc. The perennial MVP candidate continues to struggle from deep as he works his way back from the long playoff run and playing for Slovenia over the summer while also missing training camp and the preseason.
The All-NBA guard shot just 2-of-10 from deep in San Francisco and is carrying a 32% average to date, down from his career-best average of 38% last season. At the other guard spot, Kyrie Irving has been absolutely stellar to start the season. Irving nearly willed a win in Denver himself with a monster 43-point effort and he remains on a tear offensively, averaging a 55% success rate both from within and outside the arc.
Deferring between the two superstar guards continues to be Plan A as they respect each other’s ability to take over any particular game and defenses must respect their ability as two of the league’s best forces on offense. For the moment at least, it’s clear that Irving should continue to take priority as Doncic works his way back to form.
Up next for Dallas is Salt Lake City for a Mountain Time match-up against the Jazz. Utah is dead last in the West at 2-8, giving up an average of 119 points per game to date while also already dropping a game to the Mavericks once this season back in October.
The Jazz rely offensively on guard Collin Sexton and forward Lauri Markkanen and are the latest team trying to make a good John Collins season happen, but their rate on offense and defense are near the bottom for a reason.
Utah is the perfect team on the schedule for a Doncic banger as the Mavericks look to right the ship with a bounce back win, especially with Irving questionable with a right shoulder strain.
Dallas will then return home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night before heading up 35 for a playoff rematch with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City.
The return of Derek Lively II from an early injury spell has come at the perfect time for a rematch against Victor Wembanyama from their Opening Night showdown. Wemby just dropped half a bill on Washington and 34 on Sacramento where he went 50% from deep in both contests, so the Dallas front court will be tested.
Sunday night’s main attraction at the Thunder comes where Doncic was heckled into dishing out a beatdown in the conference semi-finals and may be the motivation that the guard needs to break through.
Do you think the Mavericks will turn things around beginning tonight in Utah? Share your predictions with Irvin on X (formerly Twitter) @Twittirv.
