At a Glance
- Klay Thompson scored a season-high 26 points and buried six 3-pointers
- He passed Damian Lillard for fourth place on the all-time 3-point list with 2,809 makes
- Dallas set season highs with 144 points and 19 made 3-pointers in the 144-122 win
- Why it matters: The shorthanded Mavericks snapped a skid without rookie star Cooper Flagg and kept their playoff hopes alive
Klay Thompson caught fire from deep and the Dallas Mavericks caught fire everywhere else, torching the Utah Jazz 144-122 on Thursday night at American Airlines Center.
Thompson’s outburst came on the heels of a season-best performance. The veteran guard knocked down 6 of 11 shots from beyond the arc and finished 10 for 18 overall, adding a season-high six assists. The barrage pushed him past Damian Lillard and into sole possession of fourth place on the NBA’s career 3-point leaderboard.
Career 3-Point Leaders
| Rank | Player | 3-Pointers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Curry | 3,000+ |
| 2 | James Harden | 2,900+ |
| 3 | Ray Allen | 2,973 |
| 4 | Klay Thompson | 2,809 |
| 5 | Damian Lillard | 2,804 |
Dallas played without rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, who sprained his left ankle Wednesday against Denver and watched the second half in a walking boot. The Mavericks responded with their most explosive offensive night of the year.
Key Runs
- First quarter: Dallas opened on a 17-6 burst and never trailed
- Second quarter: A 15-2 spurt pushed the lead to 21
- Third quarter: The Mavs outscored Utah 42-29 to put the game away
Naji Marshall chipped in 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while the bench combined for 51 points. The Mavericks shot 56 percent overall and 46 percent from deep, burying the Jazz under a flurry of triples.
Utah arrived allowing an NBA-worst 127.0 points per game and 15.6 made 3-pointers per contest. Dallas exceeded both averages, canning 19 threes-another season best-on 41 attempts.
Brice Sensabaugh paced the Jazz with a career-high 27 points, going 5 for 8 from distance. Utah played without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen for a second straight game as he battles an illness. The Jazz slipped to 14-27 and have lost five of six.
The same teams meet again Saturday night in Dallas. The Mavericks will again be without Flagg, who is considered day-to-day with the ankle sprain.
Key Takeaways
- Thompson’s hot hand signals a potential late-season surge for Dallas
- The Mavericks’ 16-26 record keeps them within striking distance of the play-in tournament
- Utah’s leaky defense continues to undermine its rebuilding effort
