Dallas Mavericks, NBA betting favorites, visit Utah Jazz, the worst team of the 2024 season

Just one game for some reason on Thursday’s NBA schedule, and it looks a bit like a mismatch on paper as defending Western Conference champion Dallas visits one of the West’s worst teams this season in the Utah Jazz.

The Mavs are solid favorites on the NBA odds in the Week 4.

Betting Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks lost their season-high third game in a row Tuesday, 120-117 at Golden State, to fall under .500 at 5-6. Dubs star Steph Curry uncorked a game-clinching three-pointer with 26.4 seconds left as part of his 37 points to ruin Klay Thompson’s return to the Bay area with Dallas. With under a minute to go and the Mavericks down 115-114, Luka Doncic had the ball and the shot clock was winding down. He tried a turnaround fadeaway from the free-throw line and missed. Then Curry hit his 3-pointer.

Jason Kidd

“On the road, we put ourselves in position to win,” coach Kidd said. “The last two minutes, we have to get better. The last three games, the last two minutes, we can’t turn the ball over, we gave up 18 offensive rebounds and with that said, we still have a chance. But we got to be better at rebounding the ball and being able to execute late in the game.”

Klay Thompson

Thompson was strong all night, finishing with 22 points and hitting half of his 12 three-pointers. He had gone through a tribute video, a long, loving ovation from the fans, most of whom were decked out in captain’s hats that were a nod to Thompson’s affinity for taking his boat out on San Francisco Bay.

Klay balled out in his return @KlayThompson // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/9H4c4Hngpj

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 13, 2024

Luka Doncic

Doncic was just 13-for-27 shooting for 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He was in some question but the team decided his left groin strain was healthy to play once he went through his warmup routine. Kyrie Irving had 21 points and six assists but was minus-13. Dereck Lively II, questionable to play because of a sprained right shoulder, contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Dallas committed 18 turnovers leading to 21 Warriors points.

The Mavs played a fourth straight game without forward PJ Washington due to a knee injury and he’s day-to-day. He’s averaging 9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks this season. Naji Marshall has been starting for him but had just six points in Tuesday’s loss.

On Dec. 6, 2023, vs. Utah, Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the first half alone, producing the first 25-point triple-double in a half in NBA history. Doncic also had a 40-point triple-double through three quarters of play (did not appear in the 4th), joining James Harden (twice) as the only players over the past 25+ years (since 1996-97) to post a 40-point triple-double through three quarters of play.

Betting Utah Jazz

Utah remains the NBA’s only winless team at home following a 120-112 defeat to Phoenix on Tuesday. Utah trailed by double digits much of the game but cut the deficit to 89-83 on Kyle Filipowski’s dunk with 10:18 left. The Suns’ Bradley Beal countered with consecutive baskets to keep the Jazz from drawing closer. Royce O’Neale and Devin Booker followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to extend Phoenix’s lead to 110-98 with 3:58 remaining. The Suns were proficient in transition, scoring 16 fast-break points, and also knocked down 18 3-pointers.

Will Hardy

“I think overall there was more good than bad,” Jazz head coach 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

With center Walker Kessler (hip) out Tuesday, Collins made his first start of the season and dominated on both ends of the floor with 29 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He’s averaging 17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks across 25.3 minutes per game while 52.0 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from downtown.

“John has done a really good job of using his physicality,” Hardy said when asked about Collins’ recent stretch of play. “He’s attacked the switch really well, and our team has looked for him in those moments. He’s also been able to find some rhythm threes.”

John snagged his double-double of the season along with a team-high 29 points #PlayerHighlights presented by @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/t39nkE4N9O

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 13, 2024

Walker Kessler

Kessler is considered day-to-day. Since entering the league in 2022-23, Kessler has totaled 351 blocks in just 146 games played. His 351 blocks are the second most among any NBA player during that three-year span. He was second in the NBA last year at 2.4 blocks per game and is up to 2.8 this year. Kessler is second in the NBA in contested rebounds per game (6.4) behind Nikola Jokic (6.8). A total of 60.4% of Kessler’s boards are contested, making that the highest in the NBA among qualified players. Opponents are shooting only 52.4% against him within 6 feet.

Lauri Markkanen

All-Star Markkanen logged 31 minutes in Tuesday’s loss, finishing with 17 points, five assists and two rebounds. Having taken a hard fall during Saturday’s win over San Antonio, Markkanen showed no ill effects on Tuesday. But he’s shooting 38.9% from the field this season.

The Jazz have seen big production from their bench to start the season. They are averaging 45.9 ppg from their bench, putting them in third behind the Warriors and the Grizzlies. Utah also also leads the league in bench Free Throws Made at 8.5 per game. While the Jazz fell to the Mavericks in their first meeting this season, they hold an 72-25 record against them all-time at home in the Delta Center.

How to Watch and Bet Mavericks at Jazz Odds

When: Thursday, 9 PM ET
Where: Delta Center
TV: NBA League Pass, NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app

Mavericks vs Jazz Season Series

This will be the second of three meetings between the teams with the Mavericks returning to Salt Lake City on Nov. 30 to close it out. On Oct. 28 in Dallas, the Mavs beat the Jazz 110-102. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, Klay Thompson added 18 and Luke Doncic had 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on an off shooting night. Collin Sexton scored 23 points and Lauri Markkanen and Keonte George added 17 each to lead the Jazz. They lost good-looking young forward Taylor Hendricks to a broken leg midway through the third quarter.

NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️

▪️ PHX, GSW match OKC with 9th win
▪️ ORL moves to 3rd in East

Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/wV1YsrFUXw pic.twitter.com/jt7XZ4E7q5

— NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2024

NBA Betting Center

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