Mavericks Struggle in Close Loss to Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks suffered their fourth consecutive close loss, falling to the Utah Jazz 115-113. Luka Doncic, despite contributing 37 points, struggled defensively in critical moments, allowing a game-winning dunk by John Collins. The absence of Kyrie Irving, due to a shoulder strain, prompted coach Jason Kidd to experiment with a new starting lineup including Quentin Grimes and Dereck Lively II. Despite a strong start, the revamped lineup could not sustain momentum against the Jazz's strong offensive performance, highlighting the Mavericks' recurring inability to close out clutch games. This trend has resulted in a cumulative loss of only eight points over the past four games, underscoring their struggles in the final minutes. The team hopes to break this pattern in their upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs.