Dallas Mavericks Take A 2-1 Series Lead Over Utah Jazz In The First Round Of The NBA Playoffs

Mavs Win Game 3 In Salt Lake City

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a critical 126-118 road win in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Friday night in Salt Lake City. The victory gives the Mavericks a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which now shifts to Dallas for Games 4 and 5 on Monday and Wednesday.

Doncic Leads The Way For Dallas

Luka Doncic continued his impressive playoff performance, leading the Mavericks with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. He was ably supported by Jalen Brunson, who added 24 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith, who chipped in with 22 points.

Mitchell's Explosives Night Not Enough For Jazz

Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 32 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Mavericks' balanced attack. Rudy Gobert added 23 points and 16 rebounds, but he was limited to just 2-of-8 shooting from the field in the second half as the Mavericks focused their defensive efforts on him.

Jazz Struggles From Three-Point Range

One of the keys to the game was the Jazz's struggles from three-point range. Utah shot just 27.3% from beyond the arc, including a dismal 4-of-21 in the second half. The Mavericks, meanwhile, shot 39.1% from three-point range.

Series Shifts To Dallas

The series now shifts to Dallas for Games 4 and 5. The Mavericks will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, while the Jazz will need to win at least one game in Dallas to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Conclusion

The Mavericks' Game 3 victory was a significant one, as they now have home-court advantage in the series. However, the Jazz are a resilient team and they will be looking to bounce back in Game 4 on Monday night.