In a nail-biting finish at Vivint Arena, the Utah Jazz pulled off a 115-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, earning their first home win of the season. The hero of the night was John Collins, who capped off a dominant 28-point, 9-rebound performance by slamming home the game-winning dunk with just 6.4 seconds remaining.
Jordan Clarkson set up the play with a heads-up pass, recovering from an earlier near-miss to deliver the decisive assist. “JC and I were just looking at each other: ‘Are you going to be open?'” Collins said with a smile. “You can see JC saying (with his eyes), ‘No, stay.
Here you go.’ It was akin to a captivating performance that exemplified our chemistry. Luka Dončić did his best to will the Mavericks to victory, scoring a game-high 37 points to go along with 9 assists.
However, the Mavericks star found himself on the wrong end of a defensive lapse in the final seconds, allowing Collins to slip free for the uncontested dunk. “I was misunderstanding. I thought I was going to go hit, and [Quentin] Grimes thought he was going to go hit … We misunderstood the bench. That’s on me,” Dončić admitted after the game.
The Jazz, playing without the injured Lauri Markkanen, overcame a late Mavericks comeback to secure the victory. Jordan Clarkson added 20 points and 4 assists, while Collin Sexton chipped in 16 points and 5 rebounds.
“JC and John were unbelievable down the stretch,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said. “Their poise really stood out. JC made big plays. John made big plays all night. His energy is infectious for us.”
The win was a much-needed boost for the Jazz, who had struggled to find their footing at home in the early part of the season. After falling behind in the first half, the team rallied with a strong third-quarter performance, ripping off a 9-0 run to control the game.
However, the Mavericks refused to go away, with Klay Thompson knocking down a game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute. But the Jazz responded with their own late-game heroics, setting the stage for Collins’ dramatic dunk.
“Tonight’s focus is not solely on the tactical aspects, such as X’s and O’s.” The team demonstrated both mental and physical toughness throughout the game, and they truly persevered against a formidable team tonight. That’s what we’re looking for,” Hardy said.
For the Mavericks, the loss was a frustrating one, as they were unable to capitalize on Dončić’s scoring outburst. The team also played without the injured Kyrie Irving, depriving them of a reliable second scoring option. Quentin Grimes stepped up in Irving’s absence, contributing 15 points and 5 assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Jazz’s balanced attack and timely plays down the stretch.
As the NBA season continues to unfold, both the Jazz and Mavericks will look to build on this thrilling matchup. For the Jazz, the victory provides a much-needed confidence boost and a glimpse of their potential when performing at their peak. For the Mavericks, it serves as a reminder that even with their star-studded roster, they must maintain focus and communication to emerge victorious in close games.