Dallas Mavericks Defeat Utah Jazz in Overtime Thriller
Mavericks Win First Playoff Series Since 2011
Luka Doncic Leads the Way with 33 Points, 11 Rebounds, and 8 Assists
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 119-111 in overtime in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night. The win gives the Mavericks their first playoff series victory since 2011.
Luka Doncic led the way for the Mavericks with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jalen Brunson added 24 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith scored 18 points.
The Jazz were led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 30 points. Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 20 rebounds, and Mike Conley scored 16 points.
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than 10 points at any point in regulation. The Mavericks took a 97-95 lead with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz tied the game with 1:07 left on a three-pointer by Mitchell.
In overtime, the Mavericks took control of the game. They scored the first five points of the extra period and never trailed. Doncic scored four points in overtime, and Brunson added three.
The Mavericks will now advance to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and are considered one of the favorites to win the NBA championship.
**Highlights:** * Luka Doncic had a monster game, finishing with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. * Jalen Brunson was also impressive, scoring 24 points and hitting several big shots down the stretch. * The Mavericks' defense was stout in overtime, holding the Jazz to just four points. * The win is the Mavericks' first playoff series victory since 2011. **Reaction:** * "I'm so proud of this team," said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. "They've worked so hard all season, and they deserve this." * "This is a special moment for our franchise," said Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. "We're back in the second round, and we're not going to stop now." * "We're just getting started," said Doncic. "We're going to keep fighting, and we're going to keep winning."