The Dallas Mavericks scored a huge knockout on Monday that would have boxing legend Mike Tyson nodding his tattooed head. The Mavs pulled off a 111-103 win over the league-leading Utah Jazz, and head coach Rick Carlisle has Tyson to thank for some pre-game inspo.
According to Carlisle, the Mavs zeroed in on one of Tyson's famous quotes after the Jazz got the better of the Mavs in their past two outings.
As per Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, Carlisle pulled out a Mike Tyson quote that said “Everybody has a plan until they get hit in the mouth,” to narrate Dallas' previous 0-2 record against the Jazz this season. On Monday, Carlisle and the Mavs made sure that they were the ones who hit first.
It was once again Luka Doncic who led the way for the Mavs, putting 31 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. With Kristaps Porzingis out with a wrist issue, key players from the Dallas roster stepped up big time, with Dorian Finney-Smith notching a season-high of 23 points with five treys and Jalen Brunson contributing 20 off the bench.
Unlike their first two meetings, Dallas took control of this one thanks to their hot shooting from outside the arc. They shot 23-of-49 from deep while the Jazz struggled and shot just 12-of-44 from distance. The Jazz tried to put up a late rally in the fourth, but Doncic and the rest of the squad channeled their inner-Tyson and stood their ground as Utah threw a late flurry of punches.
This is the Mavs' fifth straight win and they'll be looking to add to that come Wednesday when they host the Houston Rockets.