Nba results, Mitchell is the Grinch of Dallas: so Utah beat the Mavs

Grand finale. Utah and Dallas close NBA Christmas with a very uncertain game in Salt Lake City, which the Jazz conquer 120-116 with much more effort than expected. The protagonist is Donovan Mitchell, who with 33 points keeps the host defense in check. In Dallas, with 7 players in the protocol including Luka Doncic, it was hard to ask for more: Jason Kidd’s team was in the match for the whole game, paying only at the end.

Utah

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The Jazz (23 won-9 lost so far) are confirmed by racing: eleven victories in the last 13 games and the fact that only Golden State and Phoenix have a better record are there to testify. Coach Snyder has splendid soloists at his disposal, starting with Mitchell, but if Utah is the third wheel in the West he owes it above all to the collective, to that system that the players know by heart. Against Dallas leading roles for Bojan Bogdanovic (25 points with 4 triples) and Mike Conley (22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists). Rudy Gobert in the offensive phase was seen only in the fourth period (8 of his 10 points), but in defense he was a bulwark that was difficult to overcome.

Dallas

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The Mavs (15-17) until they recover the long list of unavailable can not aspire to anything more than an honorable defeat. In Salt Lake City they played well, with the usual Jalen Brunson protagonist (27 points, 6 assists), this time well helped by Kristaps Porzingis (27 points, 9 rebounds). They would have needed help other than that provided by a host of replacements like Brandon Knight (10 points) and Theo Pinson (9), the ones Dallas had to recruit when Covid stops became unsustainable. Coach Kidd awaits the return of Doncic, still without a date, to continue to grow a team that has still lost 4 of the last 5 games.

The match

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Dallas has a rocket start and with 9 points from Porzingis reaches 30-14 at 2’56 ”from the first siren. Utah recovers quickly: he is already at 36-36 after two minutes of the second quarter, then completes the overtaking operation thanks to the 16 points in Mitchell’s period. The recovery begins with the Jazz ahead 65-63: Porzingis takes 12 points for the escape attempt from Dallas, but Utah remains in the wake and the third period ends at 90-90. The fourth is what makes the difference: at the beginning the Mavs stammer, the Jazz don’t and at 5’37 ”from the siren they are at 107-97 with Gobert. Dallas tries a new comeback, but Utah does not capitulate.

Utah:Mitchell 33 (10/19 from two, 1/7 from three, 10/11 free throws), Bogdanovic 25, Conley 22. Rebounds: Gobert 11. Assists: Ingles 6.

Dallas:Porzingis 27 (8/13, 0/5 11/13 tl), Brunson 27 (8/20, 2/5, 5/8 tl), Ntilikina 17. Rebounds: Porzingis 9. Assist: Brunson 6.