SALT LAKE CITY Dallas MavericksGuard Jalen BrunsonHe screamed a few harsh words at a referee and was awarded only the second technical foul in his NBA career.
Utah JazzForward Royce O’NealeBrunson had just given Brunson a running elbow. The players were positioning themselves for a rebound. Brunson was forced out of Game 3 for the last 4 minutes and 38 second of the first period.
This is about the only way Brunson has been slowed down by the Jazz in the last few games.
Brunson’s second consecutive performance was a highlight for the Mavericks, who took a 2-1 series win with a 126 -118 win. Luka DoncicHis left calf strain is under control. Doncic is increasing his basketball activity and hopes that he will make his series debut in Saturday’s Game 4.
Brunson scored 31 on 12-of-22 shots. It came just days after Brunson scored 41 points on 12-of-22 shooting during Monday’s Game 2 loss. Brunson, a four year veteran of the NBA, is now the first player to score 30 points or more in consecutive games.
Brunson also added five assists on Thursday. Brunson said, “It’s me being myself, trying to win my team,” “That’s what I’m currently thinking about. It’s not a coming out party for me.
Brunson is the Mavs’ second leading scorer at 16.3 points per match. Doncic has been sidelined. Brunson has been Dallas’ primary player in this series. Brunson has exploited Jazz’s poor on-ball defense to create ball movement. This has helped the Mavs make 40 3s in their victories.
All 31 of Brunson’s points in Game 3 came off the dribble, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Brunson scored 22 points in paint using a combination of footwork, power, touch, ballhandling and footwork to torch the Jazz.
Jazz guard: “He’s an exceptional player.” Donovan Mitchell said. “And he is a winner. That’s what you are seeing. People are seeing it for the first-time in his career.
Mitchell scored 28 of his game high 32 points in the second period, when the Jazz reduced a 17 point deficit to one before losing.
Brunson stated that “We are playing at such an level that we’re capable of withstand their run”, and has only committed one turnover in his past two games. “The fact that we were capable of doing that tonight is remarkable, since this is an extremely challenging place to play. It’s up to us to continue playing our basketball style and to stick together. We did that, I think. We were poised even after they reduced the number to one. We remained calm and collected. “We just have to keep it up.”
Utah had 6-foot-6 for much of the second-half. Eric Paschall at center, scrambling for solutions.
26 All-Star center has outscored Jazz, 6-2 Rudy GobertThe Mavs were on the floor for the previous two games. The Mavericks are a successful team that plays a five-out offensive strategy, largely because they have a backup center. Maxi KleberHe has come out of his slump in late-season shooting and is now 12-of-16 at 3-point range. Kleber scored 17 points in just 22 minutes, making four of five 3-point attempts.
The Vivint Arena crowdbooed Jazz in the second quarter. They were frustrated to see Utah be taken apart by Dallas, without Doncic, going into halftime. LA ClippersStar was not injured Kawhi LeonardLast year’s playoffs.
Mitchell stated that everyone expects us to take care business. “We were booed. It’s what it is. That’s who we are as a team that bounced back is what shows our character. We’ll take it, review the film, and adapt.”