Jazz 109 Mavericks 92: Game 81 Recap

The Lead
With most of their top players sitting, the Mavs lose their first chance to get 50 wins.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 18
Rebounds: Aminu, 10
Assists: Rondo, Felton, 5
+-: Stoudemire, +1
Jazz
Points: Cotton, 21
Rebounds: Gobert, 17
Assists: Hood, Cotton, 4
+-: Johnson, +20

Game Ball
J.J. Barea
18 points, 8-15 FG, 23 minutes

X-Factor
Dwight Powell
8 points, 8 rebounds, 24 munutes

Play of the Game
Early in the second quarter, Jazz point guard Bryce Cotton goes way up to finish an alley-oop dunk with his left hand.

Stat of the Game
After playing to a 57-57 tie in the first half, the Mavs get destroyed by Utah 30-12 in the third quarter.

Of Note

• Dirk, Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis were all sent back to Dallas before the game to rest.
• Chandler Parsons suffered a setback in his return from his knee injury. He is still hopeful he will back by the time the playoffs start this weekend.
• Devin Harris left the game in the second quarter after injuring his toe. X-Rays were negative and the injury is not considered serious. It is a different toe than the one he had surgery on last season.
• The Mavericks had their 8 game winning streak over the Jazz snapped.
• Tonight was the first game all season, Rajon Rondo made both multiple threes and free throws. He was 2-3 on threes and 3-4 from the line.
• The Mavs finished the year 23-18 on the road. They were also 23-18 last season.

Grades
Jefferson: C-
Villanueva: A-
Stoudemire: A-
Rondo: A-
Felton: B-
Aminu: B+
James: C
Barea: A-
Powell: B

Quote of Note
"Am I concerned? Yeah, I'm concerned.The next couple days we will get back home and he will continue to rehab. ... We will see where we are. We are not going to take any risks with it."
Rick Carlisle on Parsons' injury situation

Next Up
The Mavericks (49-32) close the regular season Wednesday, at home against the Northwest Division champion Portland Trail Blazers (51-30).