Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks November 30th 2024

The Dallas Mavericks (-272) will travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz (+222) in a Western Conference matchup. The Jazz (4-14) have lost two straight games and are currently 14th in the Western Conference. The Mavericks (11-8) have won two straight games and are 7th in the Western Conference.

This game will tip off at 9:30 ET and will be televised on KJZZ. The Mavericks are currently favored by 6.5 points and the over/under line is 232.5.

Mavericks vs. Jazz Key Information

With a 129-114 win over the Knicks on Wednesday, the Mavericks improved to 11-8 this season. Dallas, who were +4.5 point underdogs, not only won but also covered the spread. The game’s total of 243 points went over the line of 232.5 by 10.5 points.

Dallas took control early, leading 28-15 after the 1st quarter and 60-38 at halftime. Though the Knicks outscored them in the 3rd and 4th quarters, the Mavericks’ 90-71 lead heading into the final period was enough to secure the win.

The Mavericks shot 56.5% from the field and hit 17 threes at a 51.5% clip in their 129-114 win over the Knicks. Naji Marshall led the way with 24 points, while Kyrie Irving added 23, and Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie each contributed 21.

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Grimes and Dinwiddie both scored 9 points in the 4th quarter, while Dereck Lively added 10 of his 12 points in the final period.

The Mavericks’ defense shined in the 1st half, allowing just 15 points in the 1st quarter and 23 in the 2nd. However, they struggled in the 2nd half, giving up 33 points in the 3rd and 43 in the 4th. Despite this, Dallas managed to hold the Knicks to 114 points on 46% shooting.

Dallas was particularly effective in defending the three, limiting New York to just 7 made threes on 24% shooting. The Mavericks also gave up 30 free throws, with the Knicks converting 27. On the boards, Dallas allowed 7 offensive rebounds while collecting 6 steals and 4 blocks.

The Jazz fell to 4-14 on the season after a 122-103 home loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday. Utah entered the game as +10.5 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 225 points narrowly missed the O/U line of 228.5.

Utah led 35-34 after the 1st quarter, but a 13-0 run by Denver shifted the momentum. The Nuggets outscored the Jazz 29-18 in the 2nd quarter and 37-23 in the 3rd, building a 100-76 lead heading into the 4th. Utah won the final quarter 27-22, but it was too late to mount a comeback.

In their 122-103 loss to the Nuggets, the Jazz shot just 42.2% from the field, but connected on 16 threes at a 37.2% clip. Collin Sexton led the way with 26 points, while Keyonte George added 23, hitting 5 threes at 41.7%.

Walker Kessler contributed 16 points on 80% shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. George scored 9 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters, while Sexton added 9 in the 2nd and 7 in the 4th.

Defensively, the Jazz struggled against the Nuggets, allowing 122 points on 54% shooting. Denver put up 34 points in the 1st quarter and 37 in the 3rd, but Utah tightened up in the 4th, giving up just 22 points.

The Jazz did well limiting the Nuggets from deep, allowing 11 made threes on 33% shooting. Denver also went to the line 23 times, making 19 free throws. Utah finished with 26 defensive rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and recorded 7 steals and 5 blocks.

The Mavericks is our selection to secure the victory, with a projected score of 125-115. We also like them to cover the spread, so we suggest betting on the Mavericks at -6.5.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 232.5, and our model predicts the Mavericks and Jazz to score a combined 240 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Mavs May Get Luka Doncic Back Against Host Jazz

Doncic’s Possible Return Bolsters Dallas’ Momentum

The Dallas Mavericks could receive a significant boost as star guard Luka Doncic is expected to rejoin the team during their road trip, starting with Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Doncic has missed the past five games due to a wrist injury sustained on Nov. 19 against New Orleans. While his status for the game remains uncertain, his presence on the trip is an encouraging sign.

“He’s doing his individual workouts. Everything I’ve heard or seen is trending in the right direction,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said earlier this week.

Mavs Thrive in Doncic’s Absence

Despite missing their top scorer, Dallas has thrived with a 4-1 record during Doncic’s absence. The Mavericks set a franchise record by having four players score at least 20 points in consecutive games, including a 129-119 victory over Atlanta and a 129-114 win against the New York Knicks earlier this week.

Naji Marshall has emerged as a key contributor in this stretch, averaging 23 points per game on 63.3 percent shooting, including hitting 50 percent from beyond the arc in the past four contests. Alongside Kyrie Irving and consistent contributions from role players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes, the Mavericks’ depth has proven pivotal.

Dallas’ balanced offense has seen at least six players reach double figures in each of their last six games, including a season-high seven in their Nov. 22 win over Denver.

Jazz Struggling with Injuries and Consistency

The Utah Jazz, meanwhile, are navigating a challenging period marked by injuries and experimentation. They fell 122-103 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday without key players Lauri Markkanen (personal reasons), John Collins (knee contusion), Jordan Clarkson (plantar fasciitis), and Kyle Filipowski (leg inflammation).

“We will play some lineups tonight that none of us in this room have seen,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said before the game. “But in some ways, these nights are fun because we get to lean into our creativity as a staff and as a team.”

Collin Sexton led Utah with 26 points, while rookie Keyonte George added 23. Walker Kessler contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, but the Jazz couldn’t contain Nikola Jokic, who scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half.

“We still have these little windows of the game that turn into kind of like a little disaster,” Hardy said, referencing a second-quarter meltdown that turned a 12-point lead into a deficit.

Notable Performances and Developments

Utah took a positive step by giving Oscar Tshiebwe, the 2022 consensus national college player of the year from Kentucky, his first minutes with the team. Tshiebwe contributed three points and nine rebounds in limited action, earning praise from Hardy.

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“I love everything about Oscar. He just makes you feel good,” Hardy said. “He’s such a good human being. I wish I was more like Oscar.”

Key Matchup and What’s at Stake

With or without Doncic, the Mavericks aim to extend their hot streak and continue their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, the Jazz, mired in inconsistency, hope to regroup and take advantage of home-court familiarity. As Dallas looks to build on its depth-driven success, Utah faces the challenge of piecing together a lineup capable of competing against one of the Western Conference’s surging teams.