SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz (35-18) built a huge lead and then fended off comeback attempts by the Dallas Mavericks (32-22) en route to a 123-119 victory Monday night at American Airlines Center.
Here are three takeaways that defined the game:
• The Jazz started off hot, scoring 32 points in the first quarter, and then got even hotter in a 39-point second quarter to take a 71-50 halftime lead. Dallas, playing without All-Star Luka Doncic, rallied in the second half to pull within five points in the third quarter and then again late in the fourth, but Utah clamped down when it needed to. Rudy Gobert (a slam) and Donovan Mitchell (a jumper) each had big buckets in the final minutes to help Utah secure its third straight win.
• For the second game in a row, reserve Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz in scoring. The guard, who scored 30 in Sunday’s buzzer-beating win at Houston, hit 10 of 17 shots and scored 25 points before fouling out. Utah needed the help considering starting point guard Mike Conley sat out to rest his knee. Backup point guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored 12 points with three rebounds and two assists off the bench after not playing since Feb. 1.
• Bojan Bogdanovic, the hero of Sunday’s game, hit three 3-pointers and scored 23 points, while Mitchell also fired in 23 on 8-of-12 shooting. Gobert contributed 17 points — hitting all seven attempts in a game in which the Jazz shoot 59% — and hauled in 16 rebounds. Their performances helped Utah sneak past Dallas, which was boosted by Tim Hardaway Jr. (33 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (28 points).
Up next
Wednesday vs. Miami, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Houston, 7 p.m.