NBA: Jazz close out Mavericks to end 5-game losing skid

Lauri Markkanen scored 33 points and the Utah Jazz closed on a 16-7 run to edge the Dallas Mavericks 116-114 on Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Keyonte George added 19 points and seven assists for Utah, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Brice Sensabaugh contributed 14 points, Walter Clayton Jr. added 12, and Kevin Love recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

For Dallas, Cooper Flagg led the way with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Klay Thompson scored 23 points, Anthony Davis had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Naji Marshall added 17 points, and Max Christie chipped in 16.

The Mavericks looked in control late after Christie drilled a 3-pointer to give Dallas a 107-100 lead with 4:39 remaining, capping a 9-0 run. But Utah responded with a 16-4 surge to take a 116-111 lead with 29 seconds left. Christie missed a 3-pointer and Flagg turned the ball over with 13 seconds remaining before Marshall hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

Markkanen shot 14-of-26 and added seven rebounds and four assists for Utah, which has now won both meetings against Dallas this season. The Mavericks committed 20 turnovers and suffered their fifth loss in the last seven games.

Utah started strong, leading 34-29 after the first quarter on 57.7% shooting and 24 points in the paint. Markkanen’s dunk extended the Jazz lead to 53-39 with 3:45 left in the second quarter, though Dallas closed on a 16-5 run to cut the halftime deficit to 58-55. Markkanen scored 15 points in the half, while Flagg had 14 for Dallas.

The third quarter saw a faster pace, with Dallas outscoring Utah 34-30 to take an 89-88 lead going into the final period. Marshall scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, which featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes.

Utah played without Jusuf Nurkic (toe) and Ace Bailey (hip). Dallas was missing P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain) for the second straight game, and Brandon Williams exited in the second quarter due to illness.

—Field Level Media/Reuters