NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates 
The Dallas Mavericks (4-4) will meet the Utah Jazz (1-7) 7:00pm CST Friday at American Airlines Center in the the group stage of the in-season NBA Cup tournament. Dallas enters this contest on a two-game slide after their comeback attempt Wednesday against San Antonio came up short, 112-111. After a challenging stretch of the schedule to begin the season, the Mavericks face their second opponent this week to bring a record with fewer than two wins into the AAC; Monday the Sacramento Kings improved to 1-6 against a Mavericks team without Kyrie Irving, 115-100. The Jazz arrive having dropped six straight after the Pelicans prevailed Wednesday in overtime, 120-113. The Mavericks and Jazz share a common opponent this week, as Jazz fell Monday to the Spurs, 119-97.
Change of plans
The Jazz organization’s goals remain more focused on developing their young core than immediate playoff contention, but in dealing for forward Jaren Jackson Jr. last spring, CEO Danny Ainge moved beyond the rebuilding phase of angling for draft position with a trade that greatly bolstered the team’s chances (and expectations) of winning now. Jackson’s departure against the Grizzlies Oct. 26 with a torn MCL means that the team will turn to the stockpile of talent amassed in recent drafts, like forward Ace Bailey, guard Darryn Peterson, and point guard Keyonte George.
Advertisement
All three of those players seem to have bright futures, but it is Lewisville’s George who has emerged as the most NBA-ready player as of this writing. The big guard hit some big shots against New Orleans Wednesday, icing a jumper that seemed to have won it before replays revealed that the ball left his hands a split second late, then knocking down the first six points of overtime coming off high screens from center Lauri Markkanen. Though the Jazz got blown out by the Spurs Monday, the previous matchup of these teams Oct. 28, a 117-111 OT Spurs win, provided some insight as to how this Jazz team can be dangerous. Playing in their first game since the Jackson injury, George keyed a Utah comeback with a drive and layup that tied it in the final minute, and guard Brice…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/4-things-watch-mavericks-cup-010100118.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-11-06 01:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
