> At a Glance
> – Lauri Markkanen drops 33 points to stop Utah’s five-game skid
> – Jazz erase late 7-point deficit, finish on 12-0 burst
> – Cooper Flagg nears triple-double with 29/10/8 in losing effort
> – Why it matters: Utah climbs back into playoff contention while Dallas loses ground in tight West race
Lauri Markkanen delivered a clutch 33-point performance and Utah erased a seven-point deficit in the final minutes to beat Dallas 116-114 on Thursday night, snapping the Jazz’s five-game losing streak.
How Utah Stole the Win
Dallas seemed in control after Max Christie’s corner three pushed the lead to 107-100 with 4:39 remaining. The Jazz responded with stifling defense, holding the Mavericks scoreless for nearly four minutes.
Markkanen scored on three straight possessions to key a 12-0 sprint and give Utah a 112-107 edge with 1:41 left. The Jazz scored on seven of their final nine trips to close it out.
Inside the Numbers
| Category | Jazz | Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Points in paint | 64 | 46 |
| Turnovers forced | 21 | – |
| Points off turnovers | 25 | – |
| Final run | 12-0 | – |
Utah punished Dallas early, piling up 24 of its 34 first-quarter points in the paint. Cody Williams sparked the early burst with three dunks in four possessions.
Notable Performances
Utah:
- Keyonte George – 19 pts, 7 ast
- Brice Sensabaugh – 14 pts
- Kevin Love – 10 pts, 10 reb
Dallas:
- Cooper Flagg – 29 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast
- Klay Thompson – 23 pts (6-11 3PT)
- Anthony Davis – 21 pts, 11 reb
Key Takeaways
- Utah’s aggressive rim attack flipped momentum in the first quarter and again late
- Markkanen’s late-game heroics ended Utah’s longest slide of the season
- Flagg’s near triple-double wasn’t enough as Dallas coughed up 21 turnovers
- The Jazz lead ballooned to 14 in the second quarter before Dallas rallied
Utah now heads home to face Charlotte on Saturday, while the Mavericks travel to Chicago the same night.
