Mavs Game Preview: Game 3 vs Jazz

Rebound with energy and focus

Photo by Tim Heitman / Getty Images

We’re heading into a busy Week 2 stretch for the Mavs, with three games in the next four days, including a back-to-back today and tomorrow. To keep things manageable, I’ll try to keep previews short and focus more on post-game observations.

Also, after we have the first five games (and some data) under our belt, I’ll start sharing some early team trends and rankings.

I’ve chosen tomorrow’s game against the Timberwolves—a rematch of the Western Conference Finals and one of the main competitors for the top seed—as the Game of the Week for Week 2. This means both the preview and post-game notes will be fully accessible to everyone for the Wolves game. For other games, some insights will be limited to paid subscribers, so if you’re able, please consider upgrading to support the work!

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Mavs (1-1) vs Jazz (0-2) game facts

Rest:UTA on 2 days of rest., DAL on 1 day of rest

Mavs 2023-24 record vs Jazz: 3-1

DAL injuries: Dante Exum (OUT), Maxi Kleber (OUT)

UTA injuries: Johnny Juzang (OUT), Isaiah Collier (OUT)

UTA projected starting 5: Keyonte George (G), Collin Sexton (G), Taylor Hendricks (F), Lauri Markkanen (F), Walker Kessler(C)

UTA key reserves: Jordan Clarkson, Cody Williams (R), John Collins, Patty Mills

UTA Rotation:

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Three key questions heading into the game

1. Will Kyrie and the rest of the offense wake up from a preseason sleep?

2. Can the Mavs keep the big Jazz frontcourt off the offensive glass?

3. Will Dallas take care of business early on the first night of a back-to-back?

Mavs on offense | Jazz on defense

*** Keep in mind, both teams’ rankings come with context: the Mavs ranked as the 8th-best offense last season but changed the geometry of their offense with the addition of Klay Thompson. The Jazz, with their coach and roster mostly unchanged, are already showing some of last year’s traits and flaws in this season's team stats.

This is a “you’ve got to take care of business” game. The Jazz were the worst defensive team in the NBA last season, and they’re already on their way there again this season, allowing 126 and 127 points in their first two games. The Mavericks mostly took care of business against the Jazz last year, winning convincingly three times—aside from the January 1st “hangover” debacle.