Luka Dončić, Mavs Lose to Jazz Without Kyrie as NBA Fans Blast 4-Game Losing Streak

Posted by Admin November 15, 2024 NBA

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks are reeling after losing 115-113 to the Utah Jazz, who were last in the Western Conference entering Thursday.

The 5-7 Mavs, now losers of four straight games, fell despite a 37-point, nine-assist, seven-rebound outing from Luka Dončić.

Dallas did play without Kyrie Irving (right shoulder strain), so the Mavs were significantly shorthanded without their second-leading scorer (25.2 PPG).

However, Utah was without star Lauri Markkanen over the final seven-and-a-half minutes after Naji Marshall unintentionally hit him in the face (Markkanen did not need X-rays postgame, per Sarah Todd of the Deseret News).

This was ultimately a brutal loss for the Mavs against a Jazz team that entered the night with a 2-8 record.

Utah forward John Collins scored a team-high 28 points, including the game-winning bucket following a Jordan Clarkson dish with 6.4 seconds remaining.

The Mavs had one more chance, but Marshall, who was second on the team with 19 points, missed a three to end the game.

Dončić did get enough offensive help for the Mavs to win this one. Klay Thompson had an off-shooting night (6-of-17) but still contributed 17 points. Quentin Grimes added 15 for the Mavs, who shot 50.6 percent from the field.

But a brutal third quarter (38-21 in favor of the Jazz) forced the Mavs to run uphill.

Josh Bowe @Boweman55

I don’t mean to be dramatic but that is legitimately one of the worst quarters I’ve seen the mavericks play in years.

Utah led 101-85 early in the fourth before Dallas began a furious comeback. Marshall notably scored 10 points in the final frame.

Dereck Lively II’s alley-oop dunk courtesy of a Dončić feed put Dallas up 110-108, but Utah responded with a Clarkson three-point play and a Collins tip dunk to go up 113-110 with 37 seconds left.

Thompson responded with a game-tying three.

However, Clarkson and Collins came through down the stretch for the win.

This was ultimately a disappointing loss for the Mavs, last year’s Western Conference champions. It’s early yet, but this year’s team sits 12th in the 15-team West. The schedule isn’t going to let up much either, with games against the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder and the 2022-23 NBA champion Denver Nuggets looming soon.

So Dallas has to get going here to stop the snowball from continuing to roll downhill. It’s been close but no cigar for Dallas for four straight games, so it isn’t as if the Mavs are that far from turning it around.

Brad Townsend @townbrad

In the last 5 days Dallas has:
Lost 114-113 at home to Phoenix.
Lost 122-120 at Denver.
Lost 120-117 at Golden State, after leading by 6 with 3:29 left.
Brutal. Mavericks fall to 5-6 and play at Utah on Thursday.

A loss is a loss, though, and they are piling up. Fans and analysts called out the Mavs for their skid.

MFFL NATION @NationMffl

The Dallas Mavericks just lost to the Utah Jazz without Lauri Markkanen in clutch time.
Embarrassing.

TF @ThunderFocus

Only 3 different teams have a worse record than the Mavericks in the West 💀 https://t.co/G2wx3HraAo

Kirk Henderson @KirkSeriousFace

Everyone, from the churlish head coach, to the pouty superstar, to the too-big-for-his-britches second-year center, everyone on the playing roster save Kyrie Irving, needs to look in the mirror and demand more from themselves and each other.
My recap https://t.co/lUpfuOfnc9

NBA World @NBAW0RLD24

The Dallas Mavericks should be embarrassed.

All Things Mavs @All_Things_Mavs

no excuse for this
disgusting basketball by the Dallas Mavericks

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 @Three_Cone

Mavericks have been absolutely awful in the clutch

The Mavs Blog @TheMavsBlog

The Mavericks season hits a new low point.
They have lost their last 4 games by a combined 8 points.
Including a two point loss tonight to the Utah Jazz.

Joel Moran @joelvmoran

The Mavericks suck right now.
Here’s what I have to say about them:
It starts with Luka. Luka needs to show better effort on defense and be better with his shot selection late in games.
Too early to panic. They will figure it out.

Up next is a home game against the San Antonio Spurs and the scorching-hot Victor Wembamyana, who just dropped a career-high 50 points. Gametime is Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Dallas.