Nba Playoffs, Dallas Mavericks-Utah Jazz 93-99 in race-1

A question of phenomena. Because in the playoffs they are the ones who make the difference. Dallas his, Luka Doncic, has sat on the bench, stopped by a strained left calf remedied on the last day of the regular season that threatens his playoffs. Utah instead has its stars on the field: Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are the ones who make the difference, who give the Jazz 99-93 away in this first act of the match between 4th and 5th in the West. The second is for Monday, also in Dallas: whether or not Luka Doncic will be there will make all the difference in the world. In race-2 as in the rest of the series.

bang

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Utah takes the 1-0 in the series and the away win because its stars have dominated. Mitchell with a second half from a force of nature, from a devastating offensive cyclone that swept away the defense of the Mavs. Rudy Gobert with his physicality and his absolute control of the area and scoreboards: he put in just 5 points attempting a single shot, but with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks he was decisive. It was also Bojan Bogdanovic, essential with 20 points in the first half while Mitchell found himself and effective in the final to extinguish the return of the Mavs. Utah was not perfect, with the thrilling ending almost wasting the +11 built 6 ‘from the end, a worrying alarm bell, because Snyder’s team has thrown away advantages like this too many times this season. To win race-2 it will take more.

the absent

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Dallas without Doncic isn’t worth this level, but it still has character to spare. Luka, however, is the sun around which the team revolves, and as much as they try neither Jalen Brunson nor Spencer Dinwiddie, however positive, manage to give what the Slovenian phenomenon does. The defense, the other backbone of Dallas’ splendid 2022, only resists for a while before sinking under the blows of Donovan Mitchell. Coach Kidd also missed the best Dwight Powell, overwhelmed by Gobert and Whiteside, two old school centers too hard for the Mavs veteran. Bad bench, with Bertans missing in action and Kleber never a factor under the basket. The final comeback is a good reaction, but something was missing to complete it: his name is Luka, he’s 23, and he sat nervously on the bench in a flashy black sweatshirt.

the match

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It is a battle immediately because, without Doncic, Dallas focuses on defense and bites Donovan Mitchell, just 2 points with 1/9 shooting in the first half. The Mavs arrive at 41-32 with Brunson 3’34 “from the rest, but Utah thanks to Bogdanovic (20 points at half-time) closes with a 13-2 run and returns to the locker room ahead 45-43. Mitchell returns as a phenomenon in the 3rd quarter, a 19-point storm raging against the Dallas defense. Utah with its phenomenon reaches 68-56, then Dinwiddie and Brunson try to contain the damage and the last quarter begins with the Jazz ahead 73-65. The visitors seem to be in control when Bogdanovic makes 86-75 in the half-way, but as has happened too often this year, Utah’s lead suddenly evaporates. Bullock from 3 brings Dallas under 92-91 with 2 ‘to play and the last minute becomes a show: O’Neale from 3 stretches over 95-91 Jazz, Dallas tries the last reaction but the Jazz defense holds.
Dallas: Brunson 24 (8/21 two, 1/3 three, 5/6 free throws), Dinwiddie 22, Bullock. Rebounds: Brunson 7. Assist: Dinwiddie 8.
Utah: Mitchell 32 (8/23, 2/6, 10/11 tl), Bogdanovic 26, Conley 13. Rebounds: Gobert 17. Assist: Mitchell 6.