The Dallas Mavericks got right back on track Friday night, taking down the Utah Jazz 112-100 at the American Airlines Center. This wasn’t just another win, it pulled the Mavs out of a two-game slump and pushed them to a perfect 2-0 record in Emirates Cup play. After those two straight losses, this victory was a serious statement, and some players *really* showed up when it mattered most.
P.J. Washington Is Playing Out of His Mind Right Now
Seriously, P.J. Washington? What a game! The dude earned a perfect 10/10 grade, dropping an absolutely ridiculous 26 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, dishing out an assist, and adding a steal and a block in just 32 minutes. Washington has been playing some legitimately great ball all season, but lately? He’s looking like a completely new man out there. You just love to see that kind of focus and impact. And let’s not forget Morez Johnson, Jr., who also had the best game of his young NBA career, even if we don’t have all his stats to break down!
Flagg and Irving Shook Off the Funk to Deliver
It definitely wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving had to battle through some real early struggles. Kyrie, for his part, pulled in a 5/10 grade. He wasn’t sharp from the jump, struggling with his shot by going 7-of-20 overall and couldn’t hit a three, going 0-of-3 from deep. But you know what? You absolutely can’t fault his effort. Irving was diving all over the floor for steals, battling among the big guys for rebounds, and still hit a few crucial shots late in the game to keep the Jazz from getting back in it. His defense was legit all night, totally making up for that off-shooting performance.
Then there’s Flagg. He scored an 8/10, which is great, especially since he was shaking off a massive funk he’d been in for the prior two games. It took him until the second half to really get going, and he missed a bunch of shots early, even getting lost on a couple of defensive assignments. But the kid persisted, closing out with an insane stat line: 21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and a block in 33 minutes. He almost got a triple-double! Yeah, he had three turnovers and was 1-of-4 from downtown, but that’s the kind of performance that reminds you how special he is. Even with a rough first half, he finished with a box score that looks awesome and truly had a positive effect on the game’s outcome.
Oh, and Caleb Martin? Didn’t even get a grade, N/A. He played 11 minutes, missed a three-point attempt, and picked up two fouls. It makes you wonder if Zaccharie Risacher or Naji Marshall will be taking over that starting spot soon.
So yeah, the Mavs are sitting pretty at 2-0 in the Emirates Cup, and more importantly, they snapped that two-game losing streak. When P.J. Washington is playing like this, and guys like Flagg can grind through a tough start to put up near triple-doubles, this team is absolutely a force. You gotta be hyped about how they responded after those losses!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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