The Utah Jazz will look to avoid their worst-ever start at home when they play the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
After a 120-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, the Jazz are now 0-5 at home this season. This is the worst home start since the team moved to Utah in 1979 and matches their worst home start ever, which dates back to their first season in New Orleans in 1974.
Despite the struggles, Jazz coach Will Hardy is staying positive during this rebuilding year. Utah has a 2-8 record but has managed to win two of its last four games after losing the first six.
The Jazz were down by double digits for most of the game against Phoenix but fought back, cutting the Suns’ lead to six points after rookie Kyle Filipowski scored a dunk with 10:18 left.
“I think there was more good than bad,” Hardy said. “The game was decided in the first quarter. They came out with energy and physicality that we didn’t. It put us behind, but our team stuck with it and kept fighting.”
John Collins led the Jazz with 29 points and 10 rebounds, Filipowski scored 18 points, and Lauri Markkanen added 17 points. Jordan Clarkson contributed 16 points and eight assists.
The Mavericks are coming off a tough 120-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Klay Thompson scored 22 points in his return to the Warriors’ home arena but was overshadowed by Stephen Curry, who scored 37 points in the game.
Luka Dončić had a strong performance in the loss, scoring 31 points with eight rebounds and six assists. He is expected to play on Thursday despite a right knee contusion, while teammate P.J. Washington (sprained right knee) is doubtful for the game.
Thompson was emotional after playing in San Francisco and seeing his old team and fans. The Warriors gave out captain hats as a tribute to Thompson’s love of boating, a tradition where he would cross the bay by boat to get to games at the Chase Center.
Thompson put Dallas up 110-105 with a 3-pointer late in the game, but Curry scored the final 12 points to help the Warriors win.
The Mavericks come into Utah on a three-game losing streak, having lost by a total of six points in their last three games. Before the loss to the Warriors, Dallas lost 114-113 to Phoenix and 122-120 to Denver.
“Tonight, this one really stung being up seven with under four minutes left. We’ll watch the film and get better,” Thompson said after Tuesday’s loss. “But I’m really proud of how this team keeps fighting. We’re still getting to know each other.
I keep telling the guys it’s better to go through this stuff early in the season than later. I know we can be great. We just have to stay focused.”
Dallas won its first game against the Jazz this season, 110-102, on Oct. 28 in Dallas. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, Thompson had 18 points, and Doncic finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Collin Sexton led Utah with 23 points.
