The Utah Jazz will try to avoid their worst-ever start at home on Thursday night when they face the Dallas Mavericks in Salt Lake City.
On the heels of a 120-112 loss to the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, the Jazz own an 0-5 record at the Delta Center. That’s the worst start on their own court since the franchise moved to Utah in 1979 and matches the all-time worst beginning since the team’s first season in New Orleans in 1974.
Jazz coach Will Hardy continues to try to remain optimistic during a youth-oriented rebuilding season. Utah has limped out to a 2-8 record, but the team has gone a modest 2-2 since dropping the first six games of the season.
After trailing by double digits for most of the night, the Jazz trimmed Phoenix’s lead to six when rookie Kyle Filipowski scored on a dunk with 10:18 remaining.
“I think overall there was more good than bad,” Hardy said. “The game was decided in the first quarter. They came out with an energy and physicality that we didn’t. It just put us behind the curve. Our team stuck with it and continued to fight and compete.”
John Collins led Utah with 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Filipowski scored 18 and Lauri Markkanen netted 17. Jordan Clarkson contributed 16 points and eight assists.
The Mavericks are coming off of a rough 120-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday in San Francisco. Klay Thompson scored 22 in his celebrated return to his former team’s arena, but he was overshadowed by former teammate Stephen Curry and his 37-point outburst.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic had a big night in the loss, compiling 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He is listed as probable to play Thursday despite a right knee contusion, while teammate P.J. Washington (sprained right knee) was listed as doubtful.
Thompson was emotional after returning to San Francisco and seeing his old team and fans. The Warriors gave captain hats to fans in his honor because of his love for boating and as a tribute to how he’d take his boat across the bay to games at the Chase Center.
Thompson put Dallas up 110-105 on a 3-pointer with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter, but Curry then scored the final 12 points for the Warriors to spoil his Splash Brother’s homecoming.
The Mavericks come into Utah on a three-game losing streak, having dropped three nail-biters by a total of six points. Before the defeat to the Warriors, Dallas fell 114-113 at home vs. the Phoenix Suns and then 122-120 at Denver.
“Tonight, this one really stung being up seven with under four minutes left. We’ll watch the film and get better,” Thompson said of the Tuesday setback. “But I’m really proud of how this team keeps fighting.
“We’re still getting to know each other. I keep telling guys it’s better to go through this stuff early in the season versus Game 60. I know we have a chance to be great. We have just got to stay the course.”
The Mavericks won their first meeting with the Jazz this season, a 110-102 decision on Oct. 28 in Dallas. Kyrie Irving had 23 points, Thompson scored 18 and Doncic totaled 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the hosts. Collin Sexton paced Utah with 23 points.
