Jazz 113, Mavericks 94
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Jazz made three key acquisitions this past offseason, trading for Mo Williams and Marvin Williams and signing free agent Randy Foye.
So far, so good for Utah on those moves.
The three newcomers played significant roles in the Jazz's 113-94 season-opening victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Williamses led the Jazz (1-0), with Mo and Marvin each scoring 21 points and playing key roles in a game-changing 18-2 run to end the third quarter.
Foye, who most recently played for the Clippers, finished with 13 points and was among six Jazz players to hit double figures in scoring. Foye hit a pair of 3-pointers to give the Jazz a 16-point lead with 7:29 remaining in the fourth, ending a mini-Dallas run after the Mavs scored the first four points of the final period to cut into the Jazz's 16-point advantage.
The Jazz were also boosted by double-doubles from starting big men Paul Millsap (13 points, 15 rebounds) and Al Jefferson (12 points, 14 reobounds).
Point guard Daren Collison led the Mavericks (1-1) with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Center Brendan Wright scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting and Shawn Marion grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds.
This was the second road game in as many nights for shorthanded Dallas, which beat the Lakers 99-91 in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. For the second night in a row, the Mavericks were without star big man Dirk Nowitzki (knee).
Dallas took a 63-55 lead into the locker room, but the Jazz answered back with a strong two-way effort in the third quarter.
In that pivotal period, Utah outscored the Mavericks 37-13. The game was tied at 74 when Mo Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers and scored on a drive to swing the momentum in Utah's direction.
Marvin Williams capped an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer. He and Foye then scored again to end the third quarter on a strong note for the Jazz.
Dallas guard Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo took their turns from out deep in the first half. Collison led all Mavs' scorers in the opening half with 13 points, including two three-pointers. Mayo went on a three-spree, drilling a trio of three-pointers in the first half, including a bomb just before the break to put Dallas ahead 63-55.
Despite flying to Utah after Tuesday's opening-night win in Los Angeles, the Mavericks came out on fire. Dallas shot 54.8 percent in the opening half, including a blistering 10-for-16 from three-point range.
In its season-opener, Utah came out flat from the field. The Jazz only went 19-for-44 and were outscored 37-30 in the second quarter.
Paul Millsap had a rough shooting first half (2-for-9), but he grabbed 13 rebounds in his first 20 minutes.
The Jazz's new Williamses sparked the team in the first half. Mo Williams, back with his rookie team, had 10 points and two assists. Marvin Williams, in his first game since being traded from Atlanta, topped Utah with a dozen points before the break.
Enes Kanter, who lost 51 pounds during the offseason, scored two quick buckets upon entering the game. He was forced out temporarily, however, after taking a hit on his chin that required three stitches.
The first half had a flurry of technical fouls. Mo Williams was slapped with a technical just four minutes into the game. The Mavs were then assessed two defensive three-seconds calls, with the Jazz being penalized once for the infraction.
NOTES: Former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan attended the game, one of the few the Hall of Famer has been to since his surprise retirement in February 2011. ... Dallas big men Dirk Nowitzki (knee) and Chris Kaman (calf) didn't play for the second night in a row. ... The Jazz were without two veterans. Point guard Earl Watson continues to rehab from right knee surgery, while estranged shooting guard Raja Bell remains away from the team until a resolution on the final year of his contract is made. ... Mavericks forward Jae Crowder is the son of former Jazz player Corey Crowder, who was Utah coach Tyrone Corbin's teammate in 1991-92.
