Doncic can only watch rally stall
DALLAS — The Mavericks strategized all week about how to best compensate for superstar Luka Doncic’s first NBA playoff absence Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz.
But they fell short when Luka Magic would shine most.
Dallas lost 99-93 at American Airlines Center to start the series in a 1-0 hole, flipping the homecourt advantage Doncic and the team had labeled as playoff priority No. 1 for weeks.
The Mavericks trimmed their 12-point deficit midway through the third quarter to eight points (7365) by the start of the fourth. Then to two points (88-86) after Reggie Bullock swished a 3-pointer with 3:33 remaining. Then to one point (92-91) after Maxi Kleber connected on one with 2:12 left.
But Baylor product Royce O’Neale — in a fashion more typical for Doncic — played hero with his lone basket at the end.
The Jazz forward grabbed the offensive rebound off his own layup miss and capped the extended possession with a corner 3-pointer with 57.3 seconds remaining to extend Utah’s lead to 95-91.
Doncic had brought popcorn, but his team didn’t close out the show.
“Especially when they was up nine or eight in the fourth quarter, (Luka) was telling us we still can win the game,” Dorian FinneySmith said. “That really helped us, too, because we battled. We battled all the way to the end, and Royce O’Neale hit a big shot. That was a real big shot.
“He didn’t make a shot all game until that one, so if we guard like we did tonight, we’ll give ourselves a chance next game.”
Jalen Brunson led with 24 points and seven rebounds, and Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points and eight assists. FinneySmith and Reggie Bullock combined for 29 points and five 3-pointers.
Dallas led the NBA with 17 double-digit comeback wins this season but didn’t capitalize this time against a Jazz team notorious for blowing late leads, including three of at least 17 points since March 29.
“We’ve just got to do a better job of finishing possessions and getting stops, and especially in the fourth when we needed it,” Brunson said. “We can’t play catch-up.”