Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks Game Thread

The Utah Jazz (6-5) take on the Dallas Mavericks (8-4) tonight in a place where the team has had some struggles winning in. (See Game Preview for more info) Nevertheless, Utah finds a way to win games where they should not, especially on the road. Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and company face off against Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, and Wesley Matthews. Woo!

Pretty big in Texas, but not anywhere else . . . somehow 'horning in' on our location in Quebec though . . .

The Mavs are trying to get back to the NBA Finals in a crowded Western Conference. They were last there in 2011, and since then have made the playoffs in three of the four seasons since, and been bounced out in the first round each time. It's like what happened to the Jazz after their finals trips. And really, it's a full-circle end of an era. The Jazz held on, brought in vets from other teams and tried to prop open their window of opportunity. But it closed without winning a trophy. The Mavs made it happen, and everything else is just gravy.

Starters:

• PG: Raul Neto vs. Deron Williams
• SG: Rodney Hood vs. Wesley Matthews
• SF: Gordon Hayward vs. Chandler Parsons
• PF: Derrick Favors vs. Dirk Nowitzki
• C: Rudy Gobert vs. Zaza Pachulia

Key Bench:

• Trey Burke and Alec Burks vs. Raymond Felton, Devin Harris, and J.J. Barea
• Trevor Booker and Trey Lyles vs. Charlie Villanueva and Dwight Powell
• Jeff Withey vs. former summer league star Salah Mejri (?)

Injuries:

• Utah -- Dante Exum (starting point guard)
• Dallas -- JaVale McGee (erstwhile starting center)

GO JAZZ GO!