By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks edged out the Utah Jazz, 110-102, in American Airlines Center and improved to 2-1 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
Despite the winning effort, Luka Doncic struggled on Monday evening. He was limited to 5/22 field goals over 33 minutes. The Slovenian star chipped in 15 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block.
German teammate Maxi Kleber was sidelined with a right hamstring strain. Putting up 23 points, including six in the fourth quarter, Kyrie Irving paved the way for the Mavs.
For the visitors, Finnish Lauri Markkanen went for 17 points with 4/15 from the field, nine rebounds, and two assists. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not get playing time.
During the third quarter, 20-year-old Taylor Hendricks suffered a broken right fibula and dislocated ankle. He was stretchered off the court, making the game itself secondary for the team coached by Will Hardy.
“Super unfortunate,” Markkanen attempted to talk about his teammate, “We are all here for him. It sucks that we lost, but he is more important than that. We know how hard he worked the whole summer to be ready for this opportunity, so it sure feels tough for him. We are going to stay here for him and support him.”
“We talk about fighting through adversity, whatever it is. Tonight it happened to be that,” he added, “Nobody can do it alone, so it is staying together and trying to work through it and not giving up.”