Mavericks 101 Jazz 92: Game 81

The Lead
The Mavericks clinch a playoff berth as their veteran experience proves vital against the youthful Jazz.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Williams, 23
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 11
Assists: Williams, 6
+-: Barea, +17
Jazz
Points: Hayward, 26
Rebounds: Hayward, Lyles, Gobert, 6
Assists: Hayward, 4
+-: Booker, Burks, +3

Game Balls
Dirk Nowitzki
22 points, 11 rebounds, 7-12 FG, 4-7 3PT
Deron Williams
23 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 9-16 FG
Wesley Matthews
20 points, 7-14 FG, 4-10 3PT

X-Factor
Salah Mejri
7 points, 3 rebounds, 3-5 FG, +6

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks will play in the playoffs for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. They were in the postseason only 6 times in the 20 years prior.

Play of the Game
With Utah on a 10-0 lead that cut the Mavs lead down to 2 late in the 3rd quarter, Wesley Matthews made a difficult shot clock-beating three to push the lead back up to 5.

Of Note

• The win also assures that the Mavs will finish no lower than 7th in the West. They can still finish as high as 5th. Potential playoff opponents are the Clippers, Thunder or Spurs.
• Dirk got the Mavs off to a fast start scoring 10 of the team's first 14 points. He also became the 15th player in NBA history to hit 1,700 career three pointers.
• J.J. Barea returned to action after missing Sunday's game with an injured groin. He had 5 points on 2-11 shooting but was a team best +17.
• The Mavericks have now held 8 straight opponents below 100 points. They are 7-1 in those games.
• Jazz center Rudy Gobert left the game in the second quarter after spraining his ankle and did not return.
• The Mavs are 6-0 this season when both Dirk and Deron Williams score at least 20 points.

Quote of Note
"It feels good that we have some fighters on this team and the playoffs mean something to this franchise and to the fans."
Dirk

Tweet of the Night

One ticket to the playoffs, please. pic.twitter.com/UTuEC4CNaa

— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) April 12, 2016

Next Up
The Mavericks (42-39) will try to improve their playoff seeding in the regular season finale against the Spurs (65-15), Wednesday at the AAC.