Utah Jazz (0-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (0-0)Preseason Game 2

Pregame Analysis

Utah Jazz (0-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (0-0)

After having the first preseason game for the Utah Jazz not being broadcasted, the team is looking to bounce back from an embarrassing first outing. After a losing 111-87 to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the Jazz are resting many of their players for the game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Utah will have a starting lineup of one of the regular starters, Royce O’Neale. The lineup also consists of Miye Oni, Eric Paschall, Jordan Clarkson, and Trent Forrest.

The injury list during the regular season would be concerning, but with it being preseason, the coaches are just taking precautions to be prepared for the regular season.

The injury list consists of:

Rest: Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, and Joe Ingles

Injury: Hassan Whiteside (Left Heel Soreness), Bojan Bogdanovic (Right Shoulder Soreness), Rudy Gay (Right Heel Surgery)

With all of these players missing for tonight’s matchup, Jazz fans will be able to see the younger players on the team reassure fans that Utah has a deep bench and can afford to have a nine-man rotation as coaches hinted towards during media day.

First Half Analysis

Right from the tipoff, the current Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson, and forward starting forward, Royce O’Neale, were the anchors for the team leading the scoring attack along with leading communication on the floor. Some surprises that came from the first half is the contribution of Elijah Hughes.

Hughes is currently signed to a two-contract with the Jazz and with how he was playing in the first half, scoring at will (3-5 FG, 3-4 3pt. FG) along with a monstrous block.

Jared Butler, the only pick for the Jazz in the 2021 NBA Draft, is still turning heads in the league as he continues to make the transition for college to professional level basketball look flawless. Butler’s stats may not say much in the first half, but he is commanding the offense, players are responsive to his calls and most importantly, the Mavericks are aware of what this young rookie is capable of.

As the Jazz continuously give the Mavericks chase for the lead throughout the first half, a reminder is needed that only one starter is available for the game. With that, there have been 14 lead changes during the first half.

The commentators for the game on NBA TV (Bally Sports broadcast) continuously state this fact and have counted the young Jazz squad out of the game. One even saying that he would make the dangerous bet before halftime.

As fans listen to the broadcast, it’s clear the commentators are unaware of the young core that this Utah team has on there roster and what they are capable of. During the playoffs last season, players such as Miye Oni and Trent Forrest, had to fill the shoes and relieve players as injuries arise. Butler on the other hand is fearless in the face of a defender, shooting freely and at will, proving he dropped too far in the NBA Draft and willing to show the teams that passed him what they’re missing out on.

As both teams head to the locker room to go over a gameplan for the second half, the Jazz are down 61-56 going into the half.

Stat Leaders

Jared Butler (UTA) 13 PTS Luka Doncic (DAL) 19 PTS

Royce O’Neale (UTA) 8 REB Willie Cauley-Stein (DAL) 8 REB

Trent Forrest (UTA) 4 AST Luka Doncic (DAL) 5 AST

Second Half Analysis

Right out the gate to start the third quarter, the Jazz look out of sync being on the downside of a 9-2 run by the Mavericks before coach Quin Snyder was forced to call a timeout to slow down the Dallas tempo. The entirety of the third quarter seemed familiar in all the wrong ways. The Jazz had five turnovers during the quarter along with going 7-20 from the field and 3-9 from behind the arc.

As the fourth quarter continued to play out, it seemed as if the players for the Jazz were tired. Shots seemed forced, whenever someone would drive to the hoop, they would pass out at the point of contact rather than trying to get the foul. Though these young players aren’t used to getting playing time such as Malik Fitts and Marques Bolden, but every game is a display of your game and should play as if the game were a playoff game rather than a preseason game.

Eric Paschall continued to make noticeable mistakes like a carry call and biting on a pump fake for a foul.

Shortly after the six-minute mark in the fourth quarter, Jazz fans were able to see Summer League show out, MaCio Teague and former Boise State guard Derrick Alston Jr. make their first appearance of the night.

Exhaustion still looked apparent as the final minutes came to a close, Dallas was able to exploit that for the Jazz. Dallas continued to hustle on defense and try to force the opposition to commit turnovers or force difficult shots. The Jazz seemed to jog back on defense and allow multiple offensive rebounds. Though this is the preseason, Jazz fans must hope that this is still preseason jitters and not foreshadowing what may come during the regular season.

Unfortunately, the Jazz have now lost two games in-a-row with a final score of 110-101.

Final Stats

Jared Butler (UTA) 22 PTS Luka Doncic (DAL) 19 PTS

Udoka Azubuike (UTA) 14 REB Willie Cauley-Stein (DAL) 9 REB

Trent Forrest (UTA) 6 AST Jalen Brunson (DAL) 8 AST

Postgame Analysis

Utah fought valiantly, but they must focus on correction and move on to the next game. Things that need to be of focus is that the Jazz lost the rebound battle (54-40), had six more fouls (22-16), shot 41.5% from the field, 30.8% from three-point and had 13 turnovers throughout the game.

Though these stats need to be focused on, the young players for the Utah Jazz played very well and should be proud of the effort the put on the court.

Now, the Jazz will be able to regroup before facing the New Orleans Pelicans (1-1) in Vivint Smart Home Arena on Monday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. EST.