The Dallas Mavericks were one of the hottest teams in the NBA heading into the playoffs. Ending the season by going 15-3 in their final 18 games seemed to indicate they were primed for playoff success. The franchise got some disappointing news when Luka Doncic injured his calf in the final game of the regular season. The Mavs superstar has been held out for the three opening games of their playoff series against the Utah Jazz, but this has not limited the team's success.

 

This was put on full display Thursday as the Mavericks took a 2-1 series lead in an impressive Game 3 victory on the road in Utah. Doncic was upgraded to questionable prior to the game but was still unable to suit up at game time. Regardless, the Mavs picked up a dominant win in front of the Jazz faithful as their star looked on again. Dallas jumped out to a lead early in the matchup and never allowed the Jazz to regain control. They once led by 17 points and managed to secure a 126-118 victory at the game's conclusion.

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3 facts from Mavs' Game 3 road win over Jazz

3-Point Shooting Difference

The Utah Jazz are known for their 3-point shooting. It is a foundational part of their offense as snipers surround the perimeter and are prepared to catch and shoot at a moment's notice. Utah was second in the NBA in 3-point attempts this season at 39.8 per game. The Mavericks have not been scared off by this and have taken control of the 3-point battle.

In Game 3, the Mavs attempted 14 more 3-point attempts than the Jazz and connected at a much higher rate. As a team, the Mavericks shot 42.9% from beyond the arc while the Jazz shot just 32.1%. Dallas shot a total of 18-of-42 in the game and tallied 27 more points from beyond the arc than Utah. The effort from the Mavs was led by Maxi Kleber and Davis Bertans, who were a combined 8-12 on long-range attempts. The shooting performance by the Mavs is notable in itself, but the fact they are seemingly beating the Jazz at their own game should be a major concern for Utah.

Supporting Cast Steps Up

In the Mavericks' first victory of the series, Jalen Brunson stepped into the spotlight. The Villanova product scored 41 points and led the team with his 15-of-25 shooting performance. Brunson was impressive again in Game 3, ending with 31 points and five assists. Even with his production, this victory felt much more team-based, which is encouraging for the Mavs.

One key moment in the game happened just before halftime without Brunson on the floor. After being forced to leave the game with a back injury, Brunson watched the Mavs battle to end the half. The lead hovered around 10 points with a few minutes in the half left to play. Without Doncic or Brunson on the court, the Mavs continued to run effective sets and extended their lead to 17 despite the best effort from the Jazz. Brunson also mentioned postgame that watching this fight in the team gave him the extra motivation to get back out there and compete.

Spencer Dinwiddie Shines When It Matters

The Dallas Mavericks have been thrilled with the production of Spencer Dinwiddie since adding him in a trade midseason. It has been great to watch the veteran guard rewrite his narrative after a frustrating stint with the Washington Wizards. Game 3 was not the most efficient game for Dinwiddie, but he stepped up when it mattered. The Colorado product shot just 6-of-21 from the field and tallied six assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Regardless of the inefficient shooting, Dinwiddie was big in crunch time. He scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a dagger 3-pointer to put the Mavs up 10 with 1:25 left to play. Obviously, the Mavs hope to get Luka Doncic back as soon as possible, but the level of play from the Mavs without him has been incredibly encouraging.

Guys like Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Maxi Kleber have all stepped up and helped the team compete in a major way. It was a hard-earned road victory in Game 3, which puts the Mavs in a great position moving forward as Doncic gets ready to return to the floor. Tensions are high in Utah as a first-round exit could have some massive implications for the franchise and the future, with a potential blowup in the cards. With the Mavs leading the series 2-1 and their superstar set to return soon, the Jazz may be in some serious trouble.