Update: Cooper Flagg Ruled Out Thursday
Western Conference bottom-feeders clash for the third time this season on Thursday night, as the Dallas Mavericks host the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center.
The Jazz (14–26, 13th West) have dropped seven of their last nine games, but they did knock off Dallas in Salt Lake City on Jan. 8. Meanwhile, the Mavericks (15–26, 12th West) have dropped seven of their last ten and enter Thursday’s matchup with nearly their entire roster on the injury report.
Both will be shorthanded on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ll meet again on Saturday in Dallas to round out the season series, which Utah currently leads 2–0.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Utah Jazz
- Out: Lauri Markkanen (Illness), Walker Kessler (Shoulder), Georges Niang (Foot)
Dallas Mavericks
- Out: Anthony Davis (Finger), Dante Exum (Knee), Dereck Lively II (Foot), Kyrie Irving (Knee)
- Questionable: Daniel Gafford (Ankle), P.J. Washington (Ankle)
- Doubtful: Cooper Flagg (Ankle), Max Christie (Illness)
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Dallas enters as a 3.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Utah sits as a +140 underdog. The game’s total is set at 236.5 points.
Jazz vs. Mavericks Preview
Utah Jazz Preview
The Utah Jazz are completely out of tune and will head into Thursday’s contest without their leading instrument. Veteran forward Lauri Markkanen, who ranks 11th in the NBA with 27.9 points per game, is sidelined once again with an illness.
The former Most Improved Player’s absence further strains an already depleted front court, compounding a league-worst defense that allows the NBA’s most points per game.
Without Markkanen, Utah will lean heavily on fellow All-Star hopeful Keyonte George to shoulder the offensive load. The third-year guard is averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, including a 37-point explosion against Dallas on Dec. 15.
Dallas Mavericks Preview
The Mavericks can’t catch a break. Just days after Anthony Davis returned to the sidelines with ligament damage in his hand, both Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford went down with injuries during Wednesday’s contest against the Nuggets. It’s unclear if either forward will be available for Thursday’s matchup against the Jazz.
Even at full strength, Dallas has struggled immensely this season. The Mavs rank among the NBA’s bottom three in offensive rating and dead last in three-point shooting — a worrying trend with Klay Thompson on the roster.
While the Mavericks own one of the NBA’s top ten defenses, their coverage could be porous on Thursday without several defensive anchors.
Jazz vs. Mavericks Pick, Best Bet
Keep an eye on the injury report for this one. If Dallas decides to sit its starters, there’s simply not enough offensive firepower on either side to expect a high-scoring affair. Don’t count on two short-rested, borderline JV squads to top the 236.5-point game total on Thursday night.
